Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joins active politics

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the sister of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, has entered active politics for the first time ahead of the national election due by May. She has been appointed the Congress's general secretary in charge of the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh.

Priyanka Gandhi, 47, who reminds many of her grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi both for her charisma and the stunning likeness, has confined herself to the constituencies of her brother Rahul and mother Sonia Gandhi, Amethi and Raebareli till now. She has always campaigned in the family seats where the Gandhis enjoy almost royal status.

Her appointment to a key position reflects the Congress's realisation that in a state like Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 seats and is considered the route to power at the centre, the party cannot have just one



in-charge.

Priyanka Gandhi's post was announced in a press statement that also said Jyotiraditya Scindia will be in charge of western UP. The announcement came as Rahul Gandhi began a two-day visit to Amethi.

Congress leaders say Priyanka Gandhi's plunge into active party politics will galvanise the ranks, which have been demoralised by the Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav move to form an alliance without the Congress.

The move to bring Priyanka Gandhi, a mother of two, on board also shows that the Congress leadership is ready to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP more aggressively.

The BJP has been repeatedly targeting Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra, a businessman being investigated for corrupt land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan.