Priyanka roars into UP with mega roadshow

LUCKNOW: Making her political debut as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi on Monday roared into Uttar Pradesh with thousands cheering as her cavalcade slowly made its way through the city during a roadshow, being seen as the launch of the party’s campaign in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in charge 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 important 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 in charges, with party tricolours and hoardings all over giving the city a festive look.

Since early Monday 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 to whip up the fervour.

Some posters showed Priyanka in ‘Durga Mata’ avatar riding on a lion.

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.

Her entry into active politics has been at a time when the party is not only witnessing one of the most challenging times electorally but has also been sidelined by prospective allies for the ‘mahagatbandhan’ with the Samajwadi Party and BSP ignoring it in forming their alliance.