The entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics and her appointment as AICC general secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh (east) has come as a major boost for the party workers and leaders ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The morale of the youthful cadre received a further fillip as along with Priyanka Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi appointed Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC general secretary incharge of UP (west).

In his first reaction after appointment of his sister Priyanka as the party general secretary, Rahul said the decision was taken to strengthen the party and this two powerful Congress leaders will pave way for the spread of the Congress ideology of the youths, elders, and other section of the society.

“I trust Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyoitraditya Scindia. We will not play on the back foot,” he told reporters at Fursatganj. He added the party has appointed both the leaders in a permanent basis in UP and had not sent Priyanka and Jyotiraditya for just two months or till the Lok Sabha polls.

“I have sent them to take Congress’ ideology forward in Uttar Pradesh. Our ideology is of standing and fighting for the poor, for the youth, for the farmers. Both Priyanka and Jyotiraditya are very capable and dynamic, and will surely take Congress forward in UP,” he added.

The sudden appointment of Priyanka on the day Rahul is visiting UP has changed the political dynamics in the State which will elect 80 Lok Sabha members.

When asked if Priyanka would be contesting the Lok Sabha polls, Rahul said, “It is up to Priyanka to take the decision. I have already said that the Congress will not play on the back foot and will only bat on the front foot in UP and elsewhere.”

Welcoming Priyanka’s new role, UP Congress president Raj Babbar said, “Bringing in Priyanka Gandhi is not just for the coming Parliament elections but she would be the face of the Party here in UP during Assembly elections in 2022.”

Besides Babbar, many other senior leaders, including Pramod Tewari, Vinod Mishra, Siddharth Priya Srivastava, Virendra Madan, Amarnath Agarwal welcomed the entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics and said that now the Party would  make a comeback in UP in a big way.

The Congress has planned a press meet of Rahul-Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia on February 4 to launch its formal campaign in a huge rally likely to be organised here at Ramabai Maidan on Feburary 10.

This probably will be the second time when both Rahul and Priyanka will be hosting a joint press conference. In 2004, Priyanka was instrumental in introducing Rahul to the media in Amethi and thereafter he contested the elections for the first time in 2004 from Amethi, once represented by his father Rajiv Gandhi.

Meanwhile, hours after the announcement of Priyanka joining active politics, posters comparing Priyanka with her grandmother and former PM Indira Gandhi came up in parts of UP. Some compared her to Goddess Durga while another in Lucknow UPCC office says, “Indira Is Back” and also thanks Rahul for bringing Priyanka in active politics.

The leaders burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the occasion. Priyanka has played crucial roles in nursing Congress bastions Amethi and Rae Bareli in the past