Priyanka formally enters politics as Congress general secretary for UP East

New Delhi, Jan 23 Ending long periods of speculation, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally entered politics on Wednesday with the Congress selecting her general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East in a move mirroring the party's expectation to go full throttle in the state in front of the general elections.

She will assume control over her new task in the politically urgent state - a Congress bastion till the mid 1980s - from the principal seven day stretch of February, an announcement from the party said.

The appointment is being viewed as a masterstroke which will support the morale of party workers in a state where Congress impact has been melting away throughout the years and where the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have reported a tie-up.

Priyanka Gandhi, who turned 47 on January 12, will help her sibling and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the Hindi heartland state, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the biggest of any state in the nation.

There had been speculation over her entry into dynamic politics and the party and her mother Sonia Gandhi had said that she would dive in when she decides so.

"Congress president has also appointed Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. She will assume responsibility with impact from first week of February 2019," a statement from Ashok Gehlot said.

Rahul Gandhi also selected senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh West.

Priyanka Gandhi and Scindia supplant Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has been selected AICC general secretary for Haryana, where the gathering is separated into groups.

The Congress chief appointed K C Venugopal as general secretary Organization. He replaces Ashok Gehlot, who has since become chief minister of Rajasthan.

Venugopal will keep on being AICC general secretary for Karnataka, where the party is in power with the Janata Dal Secular.

"The party appreciates the commitment of Ashok Gehlot as AICC general secretary (Organization)," a note from the party chief said.

Priyanka Gandhi was earlier actively involved in key decision making in the party along with her mother and sibling, including the selection of new chief ministers for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as of late.

She was also instrumental in initiating the entry of Manpreet Badal and Navjot Singh Sidhu in the Punjab Congress.

The mother of two is married to Robert Vadra, who is embroiled in a land push in Haryana and Rajasthan and is confronting tests by the Enforcement Directorate.

Congrats P... always close by in each period of your life. Put forth a valiant effort, Vadra said in a Facebook post.

Her joining active politics by accepting a important role in the party heralds the section of another Gandhi scion.

Party workers speculated that she may challenge Rae Bareli seat, which is at present spoken to by her seat Sonia Gandhi.