Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow this morning and kicked off a rally accompanied by her brother Congress President Rahul Gandhi and senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, seen as the Congress' big hope for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, announced her entry into politics as the party's general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh two weeks ago. Reviving Congress fortunes in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh will be a symbolic victory for the party as Allahabad has been home to the Nehru family and was also former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri's Lok Sabha seat. Neighbouring Phulpur used to be India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's Lok Sabha seat.
The last two Lok Sabha elections in eastern Uttar Pradesh, for the Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies, were disastrous for the Congress. Congress candidates managed to fetch only around 19,000 votes each and registered only a 2% vote share in each constituency.
Eastern Uttar Pradesh currently has strongholds of both Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A 30-kilometre long roadshow is planned in Lucknow as a grand welcome for the top three Congress leaders, through some of the most congested areas of the city.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will, in the course of the next three days, conduct daily meetings over specific constituencies of the 40-odd Lok Sabha seats which fall under her purview. Sources say instead of returning to Delhi after her Lucknow visit, she may tour eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Here are the Highlights on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Lucknow Roadshow:
- Congress cannot remain weak in Uttar Pradesh. To make the Congress stand on its feet, I have entrusted the job to Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya scindia.
- I will come wherever I am needed.
- If Congress has to stand on its feet, zamini netas will have to be promoted, not those who fly in planes.
- Chowkidar had done parallel negotiations. Narendra Modi cancelled Air Force's negotiation. People of defence ministry and air force say chowkidar chor hai.
- Narendra Modi cancelled corruption clause in Rafale deal.
- PM Modi's hollowness has come before the nation. If you want to talk about corruption, then say chowkidar chor hai.
- I respect Mayawati and Akhilesh ji, but the Congress party will fight with all its strength, it will fight to change Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Lucknow Roadshow: In You We See Indira Gandhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thrills UP CongressPriyanka Gandhi Vadra waved, grinned, flashed a thumbs-up sign and pointed Hillary Clinton-style as she launched her charm offensive in Uttar Pradesh today with a roadshow through Lucknow, a longtime BJP stronghold.
- Nation's 'chowkidaar' stole money from Uttar Pradesh, other states, and Air Force. 'Chowkidaar chor hai'. Uttar Pradesh is the heart of the country.
- Have asked Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia to fight injustice and ensure a just government. We would play on the front-foot, won't play on the back-foot.
- We (Rahu, Priyanka, Jyotiraditya Scindia) won't be satisfied till a Congress government is formed in the state. We would ensure a government of poor, of farmers.
Low hanging wires force the road show to be stalled- rahul and priyanka go inside the bus pic.twitter.com/gfrQZRgWcw
- sunetra choudhury (@sunetrac) February 11, 2019
Congress President @RahulGandhi GS Incharges UP East & West @priyankagandhi & @JM_Scindia greet the thousands of well wishers gathered along the path of their roadshow in Lucknow. #NayiUmeedNayaDesh pic.twitter.com/BvDyDjLSAX
- Congress (@INCIndia) February 11, 2019
Scores of Congress supporters thronged the streets of the state capital to welcome the leaders.
Party supporters were seen dancing, sloganeering and cheering ahead of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's first visit to Lucknow after assuming office earlier this month.
Despite Priyanka being accompanied by her brother and officials from the party, most of the slogans raised were in praise of Priyanka, with Rahul finding only a few mentions once in a while, according to news agency ANI.
Soon after their arrival at Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, the senior leaders embarked on their road show atop a white bus, according to ANI.
आ देखे जरा किसमे कितना है दम,
- Jyotiraditya Scindia (@JM_Scindia) February 11, 2019
जम के रखना कदम मेरे साथिया pic.twitter.com/6pTjBLrXJ9
Read Here: Congress UP Roadshow: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Lucknow Roadshow Shortly, Brother Rahul By Her SidePriyanka Gandhi Vadra will launch her mission Uttar Pradesh today with a roadshow through the crowded streets of Lucknow, the entire route awash with posters of the new Congress general secretary and her brother Rahul Gandhi, the party president.
Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is now on Twitter. You may follow her at @priyankagandhi
- Congress (@INCIndia) February 11, 2019
Read Here: Priyanka Gandhi Lucknow Roadshow: Congress's Priyanka Sena In All-Pink Uniform Has A Mission TooAs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra begins her campaign today for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the national election, a group of party workers are geared up to work as her "army", complete with a pink uniform that has her photo and a message. They call themselves the 'Priyanka Sena'.
लखनऊ आ रहा हूँ|
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 11, 2019
प्रियंका गांधी वाड्रा जी और ज्योतिरादित्य सिंधिया जी साथ होंगे|
दोपहर करीब 12 बजे, लखनऊ के हवाई अड्डे से पार्टी मुख्यालय तक रोड-शो का आयोजन किया गया है|
आप सभी से मिलने को उत्साहित हूँ| pic.twitter.com/H0yuBQvthM
WATCH: Will Priyanka Gandhi Boost Congress' Chances In UP? Mission Begins TodayPriyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is being hailed by many as the Congress' big hope in the make-or- break state of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, will finally arrive in Lucknow this morning. Rahul Gandhi, brother and Congress president, had announced her entry into politics as the party's general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh two weeks ago.
Read Here: Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Will Priyanka Gandhi Boost Congress Chances In Uttar Pradesh? Mission Begins TodayPriyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is being hailed by many as the Congress' big hope in the make-or- break state of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, will finally arrive in Lucknow this morning. Rahul Gandhi, brother and Congress president, had announced her entry into politics as the party's general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh two weeks ago.
