Priyanka enters Indian politics ahead of vote

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, sister of India's Congress Party President Rahul Gandhi, formally entered politics yesterday with the party appointing her general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East in a move reflecting the party's intent to go full throttle in the key political battleground ahead of the general elections.

Priyanka, 47, will take over her new assignment in the state which was a Congress bastion till mid 1980s, from the first week of February, a statement from the Congress said. Uttar Pradesh sends the largest number of members to the Lok Sabha.

Her appointment is being seen as a move aimed at boosting the morale of party workers in a state where Congress influence and organisational base has been waning steadily over the years and where the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced a poll tie-up last week.

A mother of two children, Priyanka Gandhi will assist her brother Rahul in the state. Her joining active politics heralds the entry of another Nehru-Gandhi family scion. It remains to be seen if she will contest from Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency represented by her mother Sonia Gandhi.

This sets at rest speculation over Priyanka's entry into active politics and the party and her mother Sonia Gandhi had said that she would take the plunge at a time of her choice.

"Congress president has appointed Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. She will be taking charge with effect from first week of February 2019," a statement from senior Congress  leader and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said.

Rahul Gandhi also appointed senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh West. Priyanka and Scindia replace Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has been appointed general secretary for Haryana state where the party is divided into factions.

Priyanka was earlier actively involved in key decision-making in the Congress along with Sonia and Rahul including in the selection of new chief ministers for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh states recently after the party's victory in assembly elections.

Priyanka is married to Robert Vadra who is embroiled in a land row in Haryana and Rajasthan and is facing probes by the Enforcement Directorate.