AGRA: The ‘bring Priyanka’ chorus gained further momentum in UP with over 600 block presidents backing her for the top job and claiming that she alone could turn the fortunes for the party in 2017 polls.
The block presidents, who were interacting with Congress party’s election strategist, Prashant Kishore, in Lucknow on Tuesday, felt that the party stood a fair chance to win the polls only with Priyanka Gandhi at the helm. Confirming this, Agra District President, Dushyant Sharma, who was also present at the meeting said almost everyone was of the opinion that Priyanka could be a potent face for the party, which has been struggling for long to regain its lost ground in UP.
Sharma said many block presidents were of the opinion that the party’s vote share could increase considerably, giving it the much-needed fillip to win a large number of seats. He said Prashant listened to everyone but did not make any comments on this issue.
Incidentally, Prashant has been the one who has been pressing upon the Congress high command to make Priyanka the face for the party in UP rather than limiting her to Raebareli and Amethi, represented by her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul, respectively, in the Lok Sabha. However, neither Sonia nor Rahul have so far said anything on the issue.
Sharma disclosed that Prashant had advised all block presidents to open their offices, for which the rent would be paid by the party, in order to increase their interaction with the people. He said Prashant also asked them to focus on the ‘brahmin’ vote, which had shifted to the BSP in 2007 and to Samajwadi Party in 2012 elections, a reconnect with them in order to bring them back to the partyfold.
Singh also said that a team of strategists and observers form Prashant’s organisation, Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), would visit Agraon May 17 and 18 for interacting with local leaders. He said the main purpose of the interaction is to assess the mood and know the view of the local leadership for forming a comprehensive poll strategy.