Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the youngest member of India’s political Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, has formally taken a plunge into Indian politics after staying on the sidelines for more than two decades.
On Tuesday, brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi announced Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as party general secretary who will be in-charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), which includes PM Narendra Modi’s constituency of Varanasi and CM Yogi Adityanath’s base, Gorakhpur.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, “UP is central to building a new hope-filled & compassionate India. The new UP AICC team lead by Priyanka & Jyotiraditya will herald the dawn of a new kind of politics in the state.”
Political commentators in India have termed her entry in politics as in-charge of a key election state as Congress party’s determination to take the 2019 elections fight head-on with PM Modi’s Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
Former President of Indian National Congress, Sonia Gandhi, President of Indian National Congress, Rahul Gandhi and Indian Politician, Priyanka Gandhi. Source: Pankaj Nangia/India Today Group/Getty Images
Hindustan Times’ Political Editor Vinod Sharma says Priyanka’s formal appointment has earned the Congress a place ‘in UP’s poll narrative’ which was missing after the regional parties (BSP, SP) tied-up adding, her arrival helps revive cadre’s enthusiasm in the state.
Political commentator Shekhar Gupta said choosing Priyanka to take on PM Modi was ‘uncharacteristic’ of the Gandhi family.
The 47-year-old will take charge of her new role from the first week of February and it remains to be seen if she will fight the upcoming general elections herself.
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