Big step, will play on front foot: Rahul Gandhi on sister Priyanka entering politics

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 23

In his first response to the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary on Wednesday, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the party had taken a big step to boost its prospects in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls by taking this decision.

Gandhi was speaking to reporters in Amethi and said it was up to Priyanka whether she wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

“That’s up to her,” he said to a query on whether his sister Priyanka could be a Parliament election candidate.

Gandhi added that the Congress won’t play on the back foot anywhere — not in Gujarat not in UP.

“I want to say we won’t play on the back foot anywhere and will play on the front door where ever we get the opportunity. We will also work with Mayawati ji and Akhilesh Yadav where possible to keep the BJP out. That having said, we have to expand the Congress footprint and have taken a big step in that direction today,” Congress chief said referring to Priyanka Gandhi’s appointment as AICC general secretary of Uttar Pradesh (East). 

Rahul Gandhi said the BJP was anxious over the latest move of the Congress and said he was “personally very happy” that his capable sister Priyanka will help him in the party and work with him now.

“We want to tell the people of UP that they should dislodge the BJP government here and that we will give them a new direction.”