With a roadshow in Lucknow, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra makes political debut in UP

Marking her political debut ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi arrived at the Lucknow airport Monday afternoon to a rousing reception by party leaders and workers.

Priyanka was greeted with drum beats, loud cheers and thousands of supporters as she embarked on a roadshow through the streets of Lucknow.

Accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the western region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a beaming Priyanka Gandhi waved at partymen jostling for a glimpse of her.

Scores of Congress supporters thronged the streets of the state capital to welcome the leaders.

As her ‘rath’ rolled on, it was a selfie galore with enthusiastic partymen taking vantage positions to click prized photographs for posterity.

Party supporters were seen dancing, sloganeering and cheering ahead of Priyanka’s maiden visit to Lucknow after assuming office earlier this month.

When the trio embarked on a roughly 25-km-long roadshow through major thoroughfares of the state capital, rose petals were sprinkled and marigold garlands showered at their cavalcade.

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.

A day before her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said that together with the people of the state she hopes to start a “new kind of politics” in which everyone will be a stakeholder.

“I am coming tomorrow to Lucknow to meet all of you. I have hope in my heart that together we will start a new kind of politics, a politics in which all of you will be stakeholders — my young friends, my sisters and even the weakest person, all their voices will be heard,” said Gandhi through the Congress’s Shakti App.

“Come, let’s build a new future, new politics with me. Thank you,” she said in her message to the people ahead of the visit to the state.

The two general secretaries will interact with party workers at the state Congress office in Lucknow on February 12, 13 and 14, while Rahul Gandhi is likely to return the same day.

“The two leaders, during their visit to the state beginning Monday, will hold meetings with the leaders from different Lok Sabha constituencies in view of the coming polls,” said UP Congress Committee (UPCC) president Raj Babbar at a press conference in Lucknow on Sunday.

Babbar said that from February 18 onwards, Priyanka and Scindia will start public interactions in their respective areas.