Congress' UP Polls List Has 40% Women; Unnao Rape Victim's Mother to Contest

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 

Photo: Accessed by The Quint (File Photo)

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday, 13 January, released the party's first list of candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. A total of 125 candidates were announced.

Out of the 125 candidates, 40 percent (50 candidates) were women and 40 percent were youth leaders.

These included the Unnao rape victim’s mother, activist Sadaf Jafar from Lucknow Central, and ASHA worker Poonam Pandey from Shahjahanpur.

Congress has also given ticket to Louis Khurshid, wife of former Union Minister Salman Khurshid.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, "In Unnao, whose daughter was wronged by the BJP, now she will become the face of justice - will fight, will win!"

‘Hope To Start a New Kind of Politics'

While announcing the names of candidates, Priyanka Gandhi said, "By fielding 40 percent women and 40 percent youth in UP, we hope to start a new kind of politics in the state."

"We have tried to field hard-working candidates who have struggled for seeking justice in Uttar Pradesh and have the will to fight," she added.

While answering questions after the announcement, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The real purpose of politics is to serve the people. It’s true that that has changed, but we want to change it back."

Further, addressing UP CM Yogi Adityanath's 80 vs 20 comment, Gandhi added, "You count 80 percent and 20 percent, shouldn’t they also ask the percentage of unemployed youth?"

She added, "We will fight on issues of development, health, education, employment, and social sector."

On being asked if Gandhi will contest in the UP polls, she said, "What I’ve started in UP, I will continue fighting for that. I want to strengthen our party so that we can continue to bring issues that matter on the main stage."