Priyanka Gandhi joins politics, becomes party GS for UP East

January 23: Though it was on the cards since a long time, but finally Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her debut in politics formally just months ahead of the Lok Sabha Election 2019. Priyanka will debut as the party’s general secretary in charge of the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, which pitches her against the ruling BJP’s top two mascots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi – whose constituency Varanasi will be in her share – and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that appointing his sister Priyanka Gandhi in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls shows the “failure” of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. JD(U) vice-president Prashant Kishor 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”. Union minister Harsimrat Badal was the first to react on the appointment of Priyanka in the Congress. Harsimrat said: “Priyanka is the last card the Congress could play and her entry shows Rahul Gandhi is a non-starter.”

INC COMMUNIQUE

Appointment of General Secretaries for All India Congress Committee. pic.twitter.com/zHENwt6Ckh

— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) January 23, 2019

47-year-old Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who reminds many of her grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi, for both her charisma and the stunning likeness, is seen as a natural in politics The appointment is being seen as a masterstroke, which will boost the morale of party workers in a state where Congress influence has been waning over the years and where the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have announced a tie-up.

The Congress dropped the Priyanka bombshell in the third para of a press statement that also announced that Jyotiraditya Scindia will be in charge of western UP. Priyanka Gandhi is in New York and is expected to return on February 1.