Mr Gandhi told reporters on Wednesday that he was "very happy" that his sister would be assisting him in the general elections and that she was "very capable".<doc-sep>Congress president Rahul Gandhi with his sister Priyanka. | Photo Credit: PTI New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into formal politics has set the stage for a blockbuster contest in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, which contributes 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. In the 2014 parliamentary polls, the BJP swept the state, garnering a remarkable 71 seats (plus two for its ally). This time, the BJP faces a tough fight from the SP-BSP alliance. But the two parties have not taken Congress on board in their gathbandan. Will Priyanka’s entry into Uttar Pradesh politics change that equation? Let's look at some key aspects and implications of Wednesday's announcement by the Congress. 1) She may have taken the formal political plunge on Wednesday, but it’s no secret that Priyanka Gandhi has been closely involved behind the scenes in creating the Congress’s 2019 Lok Sabha campaign strategy. The difference now is that she will have a very active public profile. And that, perhaps, is exactly what the Congress is aiming for. The much-talked-about brahmastra (ultimate weapon) has finally been unleashed by the party. 2) One theory regarding the timing of Priyanka’s elevation is that the Congress leadership believes she will be able to wrest a chunk of upper caste votes back from the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Eating into the BJP’s upper caste vote bank is part of a strategy to limit the BJP’s chances in Uttar Pradesh, with the SP-BSP alliance expected to corner a solid portion of the Muslim-OBC-Dalit vote share. 3) Though rumours of Priyanka joining politics have been swirling for at least two decades, it’s remarkable how closely guarded the actual announcement was, catching most Congress-watchers off guard. By keeping a very tight lid on the decision, which by all accounts had been taken months ago, the Grand Old Party ensured that the impact of the move was maximised. 4) While Priyanka will be under immense media scrutiny from now, her few public appearances from the past reveal a greater comfort with Hindi than her brother Rahul and an ability to connect with crowds. However, it’s a little premature to determine if she can be the vote-catching magnet that the Congress is banking on. 5) Priyanka is expected to focus on her designated area of eastern Uttar Pradesh and make a difference to the Congress’s fortunes. Can she turn the tables on the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, both of whom have won elections from this part of the state? All eyes will be on her. But failure can be costly, especially if expectations are unrealistic. As Priyanka herself said years ago, the thing with the brahmastra is that it can be used only once. The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way represent those of Times Network.<doc-sep>Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday formally joined active politics in a surprise move that ended years of speculation over her political future and was hailed by Congress leaders as a “game changer” for the party ahead of the 2019 general elections . In her first official assignment, Priyanka Gandhi, 47, has been appointed All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary incharge for eastern Uttar Pradesh, a crucial part of the country’s most populous and politically important state that includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi represent the fifth generation of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Their father, Rajiv Gandhi, grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru were all prime ministers who entered politics from Uttar Pradesh. Also read:‘Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s appointment a game changer’ The Congress president also elevated senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC general secretary and handed him the charge of western Uttar Pradesh, thereby splitting the organisation of the state between Scindia, 48, and Priyanka Gandhi. Coming months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the appointments of Priyanka Gandhi and Scindia are part of Rahul Gandhi’s strategy to revive the party in Uttar Pradesh, where it has been struggling to arrest its falling fortunes since being ousted from power in 1989 despite a surprising upturn in fortunes in 2009, when it won 22 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. In 2014, the only two seats the Congress won were Rae Bareli and Amethi, from where United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi contested. The Congress’ decline in the state started with the rise of the Samajwadi Party (SP) of Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The two have stitched up an alliance for the upcoming elections and kept the Congress out of their tie-up. With the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya as one of its principal planks, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also emerged as a key player in the state over the last three decades. Also read: She is capable: Rahul Gandhi on sister Priyanka’s political debut Rahul Gandhi’s decision to give a key party role to his sister underlines the significance of Uttar Pradesh to forming a government at the Centre. “UP is central to building a new hope filled & compassionate India. The new UP AICC team lead by Priyanka & Jyotiraditya, will herald the dawn of a new kind of politics in the state. We will offer the youth in UP a dynamic new platform to transform the state,” Rahul Gandhi later tweeted. Robert Vadra wrote in a Facebook post: “Congratulations P... always by your side in every phase of your life. Give it your best.” BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attacked the Congress over Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment, saying it highlighted its reliance on the dynastic politics. “In the BJP, we don’t take decisions on the basis of what a family or a person wants. Un logon ke liye, parivar hi party hai, lekin BJP mein party hi parivar hai [For those people, their family makes the party but for the BJP, the party is like a family],” Modi said in Maharashtra’s Baramati. “Her [Priyanka Gandhi] appointment proves Rahul Gandhi has failed to leave a mark as Congress president,” Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, adding that he wondered why she was given charge of only east UP. Janata Dal (United) vice-president and poll strategist Prashant Kishor tweeted: “One of the most awaited entries in Indian politics is finally here! While people may debate the timing, exact role and position, to me, the real news is that she finally decided to take the plunge! Congratulations and best wishes to Priyanka Gandhi.” The move was kept strictly under the wraps and took not only the BJP and other political parties by surprise, but even several senior Congress leaders. The party’s general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was looking after the party affairs in UP till Wednesday, had called a meeting of select office bearers in Lucknow on Thursday. Azad, who has now been given the charge of Haryana, had also pencilled in a brainstorming session for UP at the party’s “war room” at 15, Gurudwara Rakabganj Road in Delhi on Friday. Upbeat Congress leaders from UP insisted that Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into active politics will boost the party’s confidence and re-energise workers not just in the state but across the country. A large number of Congress leaders have demanded over the years that Priyanka Gandhi take the plunge into active politics. But she confined herself to campaign management in Rae Bareli and Amethi, and was informally involved in the party’s election preparedness in UP in Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the past. She was seen to have played a key role in stitching up an alliance with SP for the 2017 assembly elections, but the tie-up failed to help the Congress in its revival attempt as it managed to win just seven of the 403 seats. “Her entry will change the nature of politics in the country. This will also shatter the illusions of the BJP and give its leaders sleepless nights henceforth,” said Prakash Joshi, AICC secretary in-charge of UP. Former Union minister and party in-charge of Jharkhand RPN Singh, who contests elections from UP’s Kushinagar, echoed the sentiment. “She will strengthen the party in its resolve to fight communal and casteist forces. She has brought the Congress back in the narrative straightway,” he said. Another former Union minister from UP, Jitin Prasada, said: “She is a game-changer. The politics in the Hindi heartland is about to change. With a new general in command, each UP Congress worker is battle-ready. She has not taken any position in a place where the Congress is doing well but taken a challenge head-on in a state where the party badly needs her.” According to a party statement, Priyanka Gandhi will take charge in the first week of February. Scindia, who represents Madhya Pradesh’s Guna in the Lok Sabha, will take over immediately and continue to be the party’s chief whip in the Lower House of Parliament.<doc-sep>Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Robert Vadra Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was appointed as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on January 23, finally marking the formal entry of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's daughter in politics. Priyanka’s formal entry into politics drew reactions from political parties across the spectrum. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said: “I congratulate Congress for announcing that Rahul has failed. They have done this by elevating Priyanka Gandhi. We are witnessing how Congress is going out of favour in various states. Congress is focused only on one family.” Speaking to News18, Union Minister Babul Supriyo congratulated Priyanka but added that it was a move made by the Congress to “help support” Rahul Gandhi. Supriyo added that the development proved Congress’ approach towards dynastic politics. National Conference (NC) chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Farooq Abdullah told News18, “Thrilled that she is entering electoral politics. Hope she will contribute to politics. We extend our best wishes to her. She is like her mother (Sonia Gandhi) and grandmother (Indira Gandhi). The people of India want her to help the party, and help her brother.” “Both Priyanka and Rahul will prove to be a great help to the Opposition,” Abdullah added. NC is an ally of the Congress. BJP MP and General Secretary for Karnataka Shobha Karandlaje said, “When clown Prince is failing consistently, princess makes her entry! Congratulations Priyanka Gandhi On your appointment as Gen Secretary of East UP.” Speaking to news agency ANI, Senior Congress leader Motilal Vohra said, “The responsibility given to Priyanka ji is very important. This will not only have an effect on eastern Uttar Pradesh but also other regions.” Congress Member of Legislative (MLA) Deepak Singh told ANI, “We are happy Priyanka Gandhi is joining. It’s very clear now Rahul Gandhi is about to become the prime minister and Modi is about to go.” Here's a reaction by Scindia who was appointed as the AICC General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West):<doc-sep>
Always by your side in every phase of your life. Give it your best: That was Robert Vadra's loving reaction to wife Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joining politics. Priyanka, who is Congress president Rahul Gandhi's younger sister, was today made the Congress party's in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East. Priyanka's political plunge, which was long-awaited in political circles, comes just months before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, in which the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress hopes to revive its fortunes. For long, Priyanka Gandhi has been involved in the Congress party's strategy and planning. Priyanka has also addressed rallies in Amethi and Raebareli, which are Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh that are traditional strongholds of the Nehru-Gandhi family. (Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Amethi, mother Sonia is an MP from Raebareli.) However, Priyanka has never held a formal post in the Congress party and the Gandhi family has maintained that joining politics would be a decision for Priyanka to take. Priyanka Gandhi's appointment as the general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East is significant because Uttar Pradesh East is where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency -- Varanasi -- is located. The Congress has not said whether Priyanka Gandhi will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election. When asked about this by India Today TV, Congress's Rajiv Shukla said that the decision of Priyanka contesting the Lok Sabha polls will be taken by the Gandhi family. Shukla also said that Priyanka will take charge of her post in the first week of February since she is currently abroad. Follow our live blog for the latest reactions on Priyanka Gandhi joining politics.