Priyanka debuts in UP with big bang roadshow
Urges people to build new future with her
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra embarked on her political journey from the top of a truck that drove through the streets of Lucknow on Monday as her party launched its campaign in Uttar Pradesh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and incharge of the western region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the beaming 47-year-old sported a kurta and a stole, and waved at the teeming party workers jostling for a glimpse.
“Come, let’s build a new future, new politics with me. Thank you,” she said in her message to the people ahead of the visit to the state.
When the three leaders embarked on a roughly 25-km-long roadshow, from the airport to the party headquarters, to woo voters in the Lok Sabha polls, rose petals and marigold garlands were showered at their cavalcade.
As her ‘rath’ inched through major thoroughfares, enthusiastic people and party members took vantage positions to click a prized photo.
Enthusiastic Congress workers took to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the two new AICC incharges, with party tricolours and hoardings all over giving the city a festive look.
Some posters showed Priyanka in ‘Durga Mata’ avatar riding on a lion.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra embarked on her political journey from the top of a truck that drove through the streets of Lucknow on Monday as her party launched its campaign in Uttar Pradesh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Since early morning, Congress workers were seen busy giving final touches to the arrangements for the roadshow, distributing food packets, tea and water to passersby. Patriotic songs were played on loudspeakers perking up the mood.
“Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyankaji is Maa Durga’s incarnation) said one poster, while some others highlighted her resemblance to Indira Gandhi, her grandmother.
Besides workers of other front organisations of the party, some Congress workers — said to be members of Priyanka sena, a little known outfit — were seen wearing pink Tshirts with her photograph.
“With the Priyanka Sena at the Nehru Bhawan, Lucknow it is almost celebration here,” tweeted Sushmita Dev, president of all India Mahila Congress.
An enthusiastic party general secretary Shailendra Tewari has customised his car to welcome Priyanka with the banner reading, “Aa gai priyanka...baj gaya danka... brashtachar ki ab lagegi Lanka...”
A day before her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi said that together with the people of the state she hopes to start a “new kind of politics” in which everyone will be a stakeholder.
The two general secretaries will interact with party workers at the state Congress office in Lucknow on February 12, 13 and 14. Priyanka Gandhi is the Congress’ big hope for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections who will be shouldering the responsibility of reviving Congress fortunes, especially in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, say party insiders.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi told PTI that Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into formal politics will enthuse party workers.