Before UP visit, Priyanka calls for a ‘new beginning’

leaders have come up along the nearly 20km stretch from the Chaudhary Charan Singh airport to the Congress headquarters, and several other parts of the city.

“Uttar Pradesh is feeling privileged as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is beginning her active politics from here….We can see hoardings with slogans ‘Badlav ki aandhi, Rahul sang Priyanka Gandhi (Winds of change, with Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi)’. And these are the feelings of all partymen. We will accord her an unprecedented welcome,” state Congress chief Raj Babbar said on Sunday.

Although a roadside public meeting is being planned in the Lalbagh area, Priyanka Gandhi and the other leaders may also address party workers from a special vehicle that will carry them from the airport to the UPCC headquarters.

Babbar said Priyanka Gandhi and Scindia will hold meetings with partymen from February 12 to 14. Priyanka Gandhi will interact with partymen of 42 Lok Sabha seats and Scindia will have meetings with workers of 38 constituencies at the UPCC headquarters, he said. UP has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the highest in the country. “Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya (Scindia) will begin touring the Lok Sabha constituencies of east and west UP, respectively, on February 18,” Babbar said.

Although the detailed programme was still being worked out, people familiar with the matter said the road shows will continue till February 21. “Priyanka may begin her tour from Allahbad’s Anand Bhawan. A proposal for a dip at the Kumbh is being considered,” said another leader.