For the first time, Priyanka Gandhi will campaign for strong party candidates who would be shortlisted by the leadership.

UPCC president Raj Babbar announced that Priyanaka Gandhi had agreed for extensive campaign in UP Assembly polls considered to be very crucial for party.

During last few months, the party leaders and workers had been demanding that Priyanka Gandhi should take important role in state politics.

Congress strategist Prashant Kishore had also hinted that Priyanka Gandhi would play major role in campaign.

So much so that, the party leaders wanted Priyanka Gandhi to be projected as CM face for UP which would have given surprise results for the party.

Old timers still remember as to how Priyanka Gandhi with her one speech at Rae Barelli Lok Sabha polls, changed the fortune in favour of party candidate Capt Satish Sharma who got elected. Before the arrival of Priyanka Gandhi, Congress candidate Capt Satish Sharma was much behind BJP candidate Arun Nehru. But Priyanka Gandhi with her one speech brought Capt Satish Sharma at the top while Arun Nehru was pushed to third position.

Again people of this state remember Priyanka Gandhi as a fighter who can take her rival head on. It so happened that during chief Minister Mayawati’s tenure when hut of a harijan was demolished by upper caste persons in a village in Sultanpur. When authorities failed to take any action, Priyanka Gandhi announced that Congress workers will rebuild the hut of the Harijan through ‘Shramdaan”. This act galvanized the Congress workers and local people who reached the spot and Chief Minister Mayawati was forced to take action. So much so, Mayawati announced package for the development of Sultanpur in order to counter the influence of Priyanka Gandhi.

Congress leaders feel that aggressive campaign by Priyanka Gandhi will help party candidates to counter major rivals Samajwadi Party, BSP and BJP.

There is a feeling in Congress Party in UP that Rahul Gandhi’s 2500 kms long yatra known as 27 saal UP Behal yatra and a slogan of “karz hoga maaf bijli bill half”could not produce desired results. Even much hyped “khat per charcha’ designed by party strategist PK also could not be termed as a success.

Similarly Congress decision to project former CM of Delhi Sheila Dixit also could not enthuse voters of UP especially Brahmins.

It was observed that ever since. Sonia Gandhi took backseat due to her failing health, Priyanka Gandhi started taking interest in UP affairs and attended important meetings in Delhi with UP leaders.

At a time when the party is divided on the issue of alliance with Samajwadi Party .,the news of Priyanka Gandhi taking part in poll campaign all over the state, has enthused party workers and potential candidates in a big way (IPA)