Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on Wednesday appointed Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East , marking her official entry into politics.
Congress said Ms. Vadra will take over as AICC general secretary for UP East in the first week of February.
After the appointment was announced, her husband Robert Vadra congratulated her and asked her to ger her best. “Congratulations P. Always by your side in every phase of your life. Give it your best,” he posted on Facebook.
News agency PTI reported Congress president Rahul Gandhi as saying, “Very happy that my sister Priyanka will assist me in UP in the Lok Sabha polls; she is very capable.”
“Congress party is fighting a battle of ideologies. And the Congress party is not going to play on the backfoot anywhere, it will play on the front foot. It is fighting for its ideology. Be it Priyanka or Jyotiraditya, they are powerful leaders of the Congress and through these two young leaders we want to alter the politics of Uttar Pradesh,” he told reporters in Amethi.
JD (U) vice president Prashant Kishor Wednesday described the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as Congress’ general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East as “one of the most awaited entries in Indian politics“.
Mr. Kishor had worked with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh as a poll strategist before joining the Janata Dal (United). “One of the most awaited entries in Indian politics is finally here! While people may debate the timing, exact role and position, to me, the real news is that she finally decided to take the plunge! Congratulations and best wishes to Priyanka Gandhi,” he said in a tweet.
Congress leaders react
“We welcome Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s appointment as Congress general secretary, as it would further boost the morale of the party ahead of Lok Sabha polls. This move will also further strengthen the organisation in the country, especially UP,” senior Congress leader and MP Pradip Bhattacharya said.
“This is an opportunity for the Congress to strike back in the most crucial state of the country where the organisation had all through been wanting her to plunge into active politics,” Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi told PTI. “We welcome both Priyankaji and Jyotiraditya Scindia to lead all of us, and look forward for a 40 plus tally for the party in the coming Lok Sabha polls,” Mr. Bakshi said.
UPCC general secretary Dwijendra Tripathi said making two general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh showed the seriousness Congress president Rahul Gandhi attaches to the State. “Both are young and popular, he said. They have a certain hold over the public and have leadership qualities and a rapport with the common man.”
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said the duo's appointments will give a big boost to the party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. “This (Priyanka’s appointment) was long overdue and was in offing for about six months. This will be a big boost for the party in a state as important as Uttar Pradesh,” Mr. Nath told PTI in an interview.
Terming the development as a “heartening moment” for Congress workers, Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan welcomed the appointments. “Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is a good administrator and experienced leader,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said while referring to her role in handling parliamentary constituencies of Raebarelli and Amethi over the last few years.
“We are happy Priyanka is given a wider responsibility in Uttar Pradesh politics. It is a heartening moment for all Congress workers. Under her able leadership, Congress will definitely register an outstanding victory in UP,” he said.
"Rahul Gandhi has failed"
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra however termed her entry into politics as an admission that Rahul Gandhi had “failed” in his leadership. “The Congress has basically publicly announced that Rahul Gandhi has failed and needs crutches from within the family. Because of his rejection by grand alliance parties, he has opted for a family alliance,” he said.
Taking a dig at the opposition party, Mr. Patra said it was natural that it had to “coronate” somebody from within the family and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has projected the Lok Sabha elections as a battle between “naamdar” (dynasts) and “kaamdar” (those who have worked).
“All appointments are from one family. And this is the fundamental difference between the Congress and the BJP. In the Congress, the family is party. In the BJP, the party is family,” Mr. Patra added.
( With inputs from Omar Rashid and PTI)
