‘Priyanka, Scindia Will Herald Dawn of New Politics’: Rahul Gandhi
Welcoming his sister’s entry into active politics, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he was “very happy” .
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was appointed the AICC General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East by her brother and party chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, 23 January.
Welcoming his sister's entry into active politics, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he was "very happy" that Priyanka will assist him in the Lok Sabha polls.
"I am very happy that my sister Priyanka will assist me in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls, she is very capable," Rahul said.
He also took to Twitter to congratulate Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia and said that their leadership will herald the dawn of new politics in UP.
- The appointment marks Priyanka’s official entry into politics
- The move is expected to boost the morale of party workers in the state which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha
- Priyanka has always confined her role in overseeing campaigning in Amethi and Raebareli, the constituencies of Rahul and mother Sonia Gandhi respectively
- Rahul Gandhi also appointed senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC general secretary for UP West
- While Congress leaders welcomed the move, BJP called it ‘dynasty politics’
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Priyanka Gandhi Appointed UP AICC General Secy
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was, on Wednesday, appointed Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, and this is seen as a masterstroke, reflecting the party's intent to go the whole hog in the politically crucial state.
The appointment also marked Priyanka's official entry into politics, and is expected to boost the morale of party workers in the state which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.
Rahul Gandhi also appointed senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh West.
"Very Happy": Rahul on Priyanka's Appointment
Welcoming his sister's entry into active politics, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he was "very happy" that Priyanka will assist him in the Lok Sabha polls.
"I am very happy that my sister Priyanka will assist me in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls, she is very capable," Rahul said.
He also said that Jyotiraditya Scindia is a dynamic youth leader.
Won't Be on the Back Foot in UP: Rahul After Priyanka's Appointment
Rahul Gandhi, responding to being left out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, said, Congress won’t be on the back foot in UP.
"SP, BSP have formed alliance in Uttar Pradesh to defeat BJP. I have no animosity against them. I have to take forward Congress' ideology," he said.
Congress Workers Celebrate in Raebareli
Congress workers celebrate in Raebareli after Priyanka Gandhi was appointed the party's General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
'Parivarwadi Soch,' Says JP Nadda on Priyanka's Appointment
UP BJP Chief JP Nadda said that Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment as the general secretary of UP East was a sign of Rahul Gandhi’s failure.
“Priyanka Gandhi officially becomes General Secretary of Congress, but everyone knows how this household company works. It is also the first official declaration from Congress that Rahul ji has failed, he should tell what is his view of Parivarwadi soch?” he said.
Brilliant Step," Says Congress Leader Renuka Chowdhury
Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury called Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment as the UP East general secretary is a brilliant step.
“It is a brilliant step by Rahul ji. The BJP is rattled. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. This decision is something that has been speculated forever and I think we should all wait for more surprises just before the elections,” she said.
Appointment Shows Congress' Failure: Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as the UP East general secretary is a stamp on Congress’ failure.
“It’s a stamp by Congress and Rahul Gandhi on his utter failure, the fact that no ‘gathbandhan’ is wanting to shake hands with Congress in any state, they were becoming irrelevant. They had to play this Eastern UP card to ensure Rahul and Sonia Ji’s seats,” she said.
Nothing Unusual, Says Ravi Shankar Prasad on Priyanka's Appointment
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad wished Priyanka Gandhi luck on her new appointment and said that it was nothing unusual.
“Priyanka ji has become General Secretary, my good luck to her. Since party is a family concern, these kinds of postings are nothing unusual, except to say with a caveat, why she has been given limited role of only Eastern UP? Perhaps her persona merited a wider role for her,” he said.
Congress Workers Celebrate Outside Party's Delhi Headquarters
Congress party workers celebrate outside party headquarters in Delhi after Priyanka Gandhi was appointed party's General Secretary for Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Move to Promote Dynasty Politics: Sambit Patra
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment as the UP East General Secretary is to promote dynasty politics by Congress.
"Expected, to promote dynasty is what Congress is all about. They consider family as the party while BJP considers party as the family. Congress has accepted that Rahul Gandhi Ji has failed,” he said.
Most Awaited Entry Into Indian Politics: JD(U)
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."
UP Congress Welcomes Priyanka's Appointment
The Congress in Uttar Pradesh said Priyanka Gandhi's entry into formal politics will enthuse party workers to regain lost ground in the state in the Lok Sabha polls.
"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 Priyanka ji 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," Bakshi said.
'Priyanka's Appointment Was Long Overdue,' Says Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath said appointments of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia as general secretaries 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," Nath told PTI in an interview.
He also said Scindia's contribution will be key to the party's election preparations and he was sure that the young leader would do a wonderful job in his new role.
Congratulating the two leaders, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister said the party is fully geared to go into elections with a very strong level of optimism.
Party is Family for the BJP, Says PM Modi, Hours After Priyanka's Appointment
PM Modi, in an interaction with BJP workers from Maharashtra said that for some leaders, the family is the party but for the BJP, the party is family.
“Decisions in our party are not taken depending on what one person or one family wants. As they say, in most cases in the country, the family is the party while in the BJP, the party is family,” he said.
Appointment Will Herald Dawn of New Politics: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to congratulate Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia and said that their leadership will herald the dawn of new politics in UP.
Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy Congratulates Priyanka Gandhi
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy welcomed the formal entry of Priyanka Gandhi into active politics.
Kumaraswamy, whose party JD(S) has formed a coalition government with the Congress, congratulated Priyanka Gandhi on her appointment as AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh (East).
"I congratulate Ms Priyanka Gandhi for her new role in the @INCIndia as AICC general secretary in charge of the Uttar Pradesh(East). I welcome her decision to join active politics," Kumaraswamy tweeted.
Appointment Based on Family: Nirmala Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took potshots at the Congress appointing Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, saying it was a step that took forward dynastic politics.
"It was an appointment based on family, which showed that dynastic politics has gone two steps forward," she told reporters here when asked about the matter.
Although there were a multitude of party workers, the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi demonstrated that Congress party gave importance to one family, she said.
Mehbooba Mufti Welcomes Priyanka Gandhi into Politics
Welcoming Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into politics, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti wondered if the Gandhi family scion would become the X factor of the upcoming national elections.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said Priyanka brings with her the grace of the Gandhi-Nehru lineage and her immense personal charm.
"Welcome Priyanka Gandhi to the rough and tumble of politics. She brings with her the grace of Gandhi-Nehru lineage and her immense personal charm. Wish her the best. Could she become the X-factor of 2019 poll battle?" Mehbooba tweeted.
Congress Will Be Strengthened: Rajasthan CM Welcomes Priyanka Gandhi's Appointment
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's entry into politics, saying it will strengthen the Congress and party president Rahul Gandhi's agenda for the country.
"It used to be discussed in media, common people and among workers that when will Priyanka Gandhi come into politics. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has appointed her. Congress will be strengthened by this," Gehlot told reporters.
"This will also strengthen the agenda of Rahul Gandhi for the country, for ending Modi rule and for sending fascist powers back home," he said.
Priyanka's Appointment No Challenge to Us: UP BJP Chief
BJP unit in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday said that the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as the Congress in-charge of eastern UP did not pose “one percent challenge” to the party.
UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey called her appointment as Congress' internal matter but, added saying, “it indicated the Congress is yet to come out from the family syndrome.”
“Sonia has now roped in her daughter,” he said referring to the UPA chairperson.
Puducherry CM Hails Priyanka's Appointment
Ruling Congress in Puducherry celebrated the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi with chief minister V Narayanasamy hailing it and saying the party would stage a comeback in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Narayanasamy distributed sweets to the public while party workers and leaders of different wings gathered at the Pradesh Congress Committee office and welcomed the announcement by Rahul Gandhi, PTI reported.
"The party workers are extremely grateful to the AICC leader for the appointment... Priyanka has swung into politics which is a good augury and the party would stage a comeback in the Lok Sabha polls and Rahul Gandhi would be the Prime Minister," Narayanasamy told PTI.
While Modi Works on 10% Quota, Cong Only Has Reservation for Family: Goyal
Reacting to Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment, BJP leader and Union minister Piyush Goyal told PTI “While Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks about the poor and provided them 10 percent quota, in the Congress, there is reservation for the members of only one family”.