Will Priyanka Gandhi Vadra finally join active politics with the 2017 Uttar Pradesh election?
Prashant Kishor has reportedly suggested Priyanka be made the face of the Congress’ UP campaign. This follows repeated demands from the block level Congress workers. In fact, posters demanding Priyanka over her brother Rahul have left the party red-faced on several occasions.
This morning, posters outside the party office in Lucknow implored Priyanka to “Save Uttar Pradesh” by campaigning for “every Congressman across the state”.
Congress election strategist Prashant Kishor is believed to have asked the party leadership to bring in Priyanka to campaign across the state and not just in the Gandhi pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli.
The Congress leadership is reportedly not in favour of promoting Priyanka as its election mascot for two reasons:
1. Her husband Robert Vadra’s land deals in Haryana are under investigation and bound to provide fodder to the opposition.
2. The allegation of promoting the Gandhi family could provide another talking point to the opposition that accuses the Congress of ‘dynasty politics’.