New Congress general secretary begins innings with a roadshow in Lucknow

Launching herself into the campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary in charge of east Uttar Pradesh, took the roads of Lucknow on Monday on her maiden visit to the State after being given the assignment.

However, it was her brother, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, accompanying her on the roadshow, along with colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia and other senior leaders, who launched a fresh verbal attack on the BJP government, while outlining the need to strengthen his party in U.P.

Rahul’s plea

“Congress started in U.P., so it cannot stay weak here,” Mr. Gandhi said at the UPCC headquarters at the end of a day-long roadshow that started from the airport and passed through major landmarks of the State’s capital.

Mr. Gandhi said he had assigned Ms. Vadra and Mr. Scindia the task of securing a better performance in the 2019 election, but more importantly to form the government in the State in the 2022 Assembly polls.

Fight for change

On the SP-BSP alliance, Mr. Gandhi said he respected their leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, but reiterated that the Congress would fight with all its strength to change U.P., and would not be on the back foot in any State.

Ms. Vadra did not speak to the public on Monday, but she had released an audio message on the eve of her visit, in which she hoped they could all together start a new brand of politics. “Politics in which you will all be participants. And the voice of all, my young friends, my sisters and the weakest person, will be heard,” she said.

Mr. Gandhi reiterated that 2019 would see a fight between ideologies: the brotherhood, love and harmony of the Congress versus the hate of the BJP and RSS. Mr. Gandhi, while attacking Mr. Modi on fresh revelations on the Rafale deal and his performance on job creation, even mimicked the PM’s style of speaking.

Cynosure of all eyes

However, all eyes during the roadshow were on Ms. Vadra, who was dressed in a light-coloured kurta and sported a stole.

Lined along the path of the 15-km roadshow were hoardings comparing Ms. Vadra to an aandhi (typhoon) and likening her to her grandmother Indira Gandhi. Some went to the extent of calling her an avatar of Goddess Durga. All along the route, she waved to supporters who had gathered on the roads and rooftops to catch a glimpse of her.

PTI adds:

Logs on to Twitter

Ms. Vadra on Monday joined Twitter and garnered a massive response with tens of thousands following her on the social media platform within hours. She logged on with the account @priyankagandhi.

“Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is now on Twitter. You may follow her at @priyankagandhi,” a tweet from the Congress’s official Twitter handle said.

Vadra urges people to ensure Priyanka’s safety

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s husband Robert Vadra said on Monday that she was a “perfect wife” and “the best mother” to their children and now the time had come to hand her to the people of India.

“Please keep her safe,” Mr. Vadra said, doffing his hat to his “best friend” over the years and warning her against the prevailing “vindictive and vicious” political atmosphere. Mr. Vadra’s emotive Facebook post came as Priyanka Gandhi participated in a road show in Lucknow on Monday.

Will have no impact in Lok Sabha polls: Kishor

Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Monday said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might not be able to “turn things around” for her party in the few months left for the Lok Sabha polls.

The Janata Dal(U) vice-president, however, said she was a big name and a popular face, who could emerge as a force to reckon with in politics in the long run.