Priyanka last card Cong could play, her entry shows Rahul''s a non-starter: Harsimrat

NEW DELHI: Appointing his sister Priyanka Gandhi in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls shows the "failure" of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the BJP said on Wednesday.

Harsimrat Badal. File photo

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 23

Appointing his sister Priyanka Gandhi in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls shows the "failure" of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the BJP said on Wednesday.

Union minister Harsimrat Badal was the first to react on the appointment of Priyanka in the Congress.

Harsimrat said: “Priyanka is the last card the Congress could play and her entry shows Rahul Gandhi is a non-starter.”

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: "As the Congress is not being accepted as part of 'mahagatbandhan' in states, a crutch is being searched in the family. Priyanka, who is from his (Rahul's) family, is like a crutch for him."

This, Patra said, was the basic difference between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

"Party is the family for the BJP whereas family is the party for Congress. All selections are done in only one family. Somewhere Rahul has failed... Who will be the next after Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi? Only one family! The new India is asking this question." His remarks came after the Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi as party General Secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh. She will take charge in the first week of February.

JD(U) vice-president Prashant Kishor described the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as Congress' general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East as "one of the most awaited entries in Indian politics".

"One of the most awaited entries in Indian politics is finally here! While people may debate the timing, exact role and position, to me, the real news is that she finally decided to take the plunge! Congratulations and best wishes to Priyanka Gandhi," Kishor said in a tweet.

The appointment is being seen as a masterstroke, which will boost the morale of party workers in a state where Congress influence has been waning over the years and where the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have announced a tie-up. With Inputs from Agencies