The Congress has chalked out an elaborate programme for the maiden visit of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia, newly appointed AICC general secretaries in charge of eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh, respectively, to the electorally crucial state.
Priyanka and Scindia are scheduled to arrive at Lucknow on February 11, along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Then, in what is intended to be a show of strength, the three leaders will proceed to the UP Congress office in a procession from the airport.
The two new in-charges of UP will interact with Congress leaders and workers from February 12 to 14 at the PCC office in Lucknow.
The schedule was finalised at a meeting between Rahul, Priyanka, Scindia and K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of organisation.
Rahul also met with AICC general secretaries and in-charges of states to chalk out the preparation for the coming Lok Sabha polls. He gave the direction that the selection of candidates for the coming general elections should be completed by the end of February so that they, as well as other party leaders, get adequate time to campaign.
“The party has decided to quickly complete the process of selection of candidates, campaign strategy and alliances,” Venugopal told reporters.
In his opening remarks, Rahul spoke about the alleged misuse of central agencies by the BJP, and the 'false' campaign carried out by the party against its political rivals. Venugopal said that Rahul wants the Congress' campaign to be decent in contrast to the BJP.
The meeting also saw the party firming up its stand on the proposed contentious Citizenship Bill. With an eye on its electoral prospects in the northeast, especially the state of Assam which it lost last year to the BJP, the party has decided to talk to other parties and block the passage of the Bill if it is brought to the Rajya Sabha.
Priyanka, who was the centre of attention today, said at the meeting that she would not rest till she ensured that the Congress flag flew high in UP. This was her first Congress meeting after her formal induction into the party. A large number of party workers had gathered to greet her as she arrived for the meeting.
AICC communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the party was ready to contest all 80 seats in UP if required. “We will not shy away from the responsibility the people have entrusted us with,” he said.
To a question on the Enforcement Directorate grilling Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra in a case of alleged money laundering, Surjewala accused the Modi government of political vendetta against Vadra. “Modiji is blinded by a feeling of revenge. Faced with imminent defeat, he has filed false cases against leaders and their families,” he said.
