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 Enters Politics: Congress Leaders, Workers Rejoice
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”.
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.
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.