Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enters active politics, gets key role in Congress
New Delhi, Jan 23 (IBNS): Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appointed his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who so far stayed away from active politics, as the party's general secretary in east Uttar Pradesh.
Congress leader Jyotiraditya Schindia, who played a key role in the party's recent success in Madhya Pradesh, has been appointed as the outfit's general secretary in west Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka will take charge in the first week of February.
The announcement came days after the Congress was kept out of an alliance by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress announced the decision in a press note.
Many congratulations to Shri K C Venugopal, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Shri @JM_Scindia on their new appointments. We're fired up & ready to go! https://t.co/q7sMB8m6DO
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2019
Priyanka, the daughter of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, is also a social worker.
Along with Rahul, the 47-year old leader had campaigned for the Congress during the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh is a key state for the success in any General Elections as it consists of 80 Lok Sabha seats.
In the 2014 General Elections, the BJP and its allies had won 73 seats in the northern state, paving the way for Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister.
Priyanka was also seen meeting people in Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies, which are held by Sonia and Rahul respectively.
Reacting to Priyanka's inclusion in the party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra has accused Congress of continuing dynasty politics.
With an immediate effect, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has been appointed as the Congress general secretary for Haryana.
