Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Enthusiasm runs high at UPCC HQ

- Saurabh Chauhan Saurabh.chauhan@htlive.com ▪

LUCKNOW: A street food vendor outside the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) headquarte­rs here says he has not seen such enthusiasm among the party workers here before.

“They are working day and night to decorate the party office and the street,” says Shiv Kumar Gupta, the vendor, on the eve of newly appointed party general secretary incharge of east UP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s arrival here.

Priyanka, accompanie­d by her brother, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and her counterpar­t for western UP Jyotiradit­ya Scindiya, will reach the party office here by Monday noon.

They are working day and night to decorate the party office and the street SHIV KUMAR GUPTA, street food vendor

Priyanka’s entry in politics has enthused the cadre. Party workers see Indira in her RAMASHANKA­R TIWARI, a party worker

Nehru Bhavan, the party headquarte­rs at 10 Mall Avenue, has been decorated for the occasion.

There are hoardings carrying pictures of Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiradit­ya Scindia and other party leaders. But it is Priyanka’s image that dominates the banners.

Ramashanka­r Tiwari, a party worker from eastern UP, says, “Priyanka’s entry in politics has

enthused the cadre. Party workers see Indira in her.” Tiwari has been camping here for the last two days.

Youth Congress and National Student Union of India (NSUI) activists have taken up the work of decorating the party office and Rajiv Chowk, where a bust of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is installed, with party flags, posters, hoardings and standees.

Some of the hoardings also have pictures of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi.

Shankar Gupta, who has been running a litti chokha stall outside the Congress office for the last five-six years says, “The flurry of political activity at the Congress office has proven beneficial for us. From 9am to 11pm, we are busy attending customers.”

Many in the party office were seen handing over their visiting cards to the local leaders.

“All can’t meet top leaders, so they want to build links with local leaders. Anticipati­ng a rejig in the state, districts units, workers have aspiration­s and this is sign of enthusiasm,” a party leader says.

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