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Congress confused, says BJP amid speculation over Priyanka Gandhi entering active politics

Speculation over Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra entering active politics during the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections next year has created quite a flutter. If true, the Congress appears to be pinning its hope

India TV Politics Desk India TV Politics Desk Published on: June 10, 2016 20:51 IST
Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi

New Delhi: Speculation over Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra entering active politics during the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections next year has created quite a flutter. If true, the Congress appears to be pinning its hopes on the Gandhi family for its revival, yet again.

However, the BJP today said that the grand old party is a confused and cannot decide who would be its face in the state and who it should form an alliance with.

"They are not clear whether they should form an alliance or not. And, if yes, then with whom? They are taking help from Bahujan Samaj Party in the Rajya Sabha elections, but are undecided on an alliance on the ground," party spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said here.

Trivedi's observation came on a day when Congress circles were abuzz that Priyanka may actively participate in the Uttar Pradesh elections.

Regarded as the party’s “Brahmastra”, 44-year-old Priyanka may campaign for the party across Uttar Pradesh in next year’s Assembly elections.

Several top Congress leaders had in past favoured Priyanka getting into active politics but the Gandhi family could not decide on her role. They have said that Priyanka has the potential to emerge as a mass leader.

Leaders believe that Priyanka would play a significant role in the Uttar Pradesh, where party is trying to revive its lost grounds. An Assembly election in the most populous state of the country is due early next year.

On being asked how Priyanka's entry may influence the electoral outcome in the state, Trivedi said, "The BJP is very clear that we will contest elections on the issue of development. It is time the people of UP are freed from communal and caste politics that they have been facing for the last 15 years."

However, the Congress did not officially announce the decision with party spokesman Manish Tewari on Friday saying that the party "would unveil its Uttar Pradesh strategy at an appropriate time".

On the other hand, Trivedi too refused to spell out who would be the BJP's face in Uttar Pradesh.

"This will be decided by the BJP parliamentary board and the senior leadership. We would announce it at the right time," he said. There was buzz around Home Minister Rajnath Singh being projected as the chief ministerial candidate of party. He, however, rubbished the reports saying he will not be the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh.

During Lok Sabha polls in 2014, Priyanka had extensively campaigned in Amethi and Rae Bareli for her brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia. She had, however, avoided campaigning beyond the Nehru-Gandhi pocket borough.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh recently said, “As far as we (Congress party) are concerned, we will be very happy if she comes into active politics.”

Congress is also in its hope for a revival of fortune with the elevation of Rahul Gandhi to the party post. There were also reports that the Gandhi scion has envisaged a 10-member body, which will be authorised to take crucial decisions, carrying forward the party's policy of ''collective leadership''.

The Congress had in 2012 Assembly polls managed to bag only 28 seats in 403 members House.

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