Synopsis
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to commence the Congress campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections on January 26. This development occurs as Rahul Gandhi scales back his outreach due to health concerns. Priyanka's focus will be on critical regions, aiming to enhance Congress's presence and voter engagement.Key Takeaways
- Priyanka Gandhi will start campaigning on January 26.
- Rahul Gandhi's participation is uncertain due to health issues.
- All Congress candidates have requested Priyanka's presence.
- The focus will be on key areas in Delhi.
- 70 Assembly seats in Delhi will be contested on February 5.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (NationPress) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress General Secretary and MP from Wayanad, is set to kick off the party's electoral campaign in Delhi starting January 26. This comes as Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, reduces his campaign activities due to concerns over his health.
A senior figure in the Congress campaign team for Delhi has confirmed that Priyanka will hold her inaugural rally in northeast Delhi on Sunday evening, officially marking her entry into the Delhi Assembly elections.
According to a senior member of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), all Congress candidates have requested her presence to campaign in their constituencies. However, she will concentrate on crucial areas, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Rahul Gandhi's campaign due to his health issues.
Recently, Rahul Gandhi cancelled a rally scheduled in Mustafabad, northeast Delhi, raising questions about his availability for upcoming events. While he has another rally planned in Madipur for Friday, his attendance at this event remains uncertain.
Despite this, Delhi Congress Chief Devendra Yadav remains hopeful about Rahul's involvement. He stated, “Rahul Gandhi's rally in Madipur is still on track, and he will speak to a large audience there,” adding that after Republic Day, all senior Congress figures, including Priyanka Gandhi, will be actively campaigning.
The 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are set to be contested on February 5. Up until now, Rahul Gandhi has conducted one significant rally in Seelampur on January 13 and has issued two brief videos criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administrations during his visit to AIIMS OPD patients.
During a rally in Sadar Bazar, Yadav read a message from Rahul, who stated, “I regret not being able to attend due to my health. I wish you all the best and will attempt to campaign in Delhi and visit Sadar once I have recovered.”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, victorious in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat during the by-election on November 23, is anticipated to concentrate her efforts on northeast Delhi, Old Delhi, and east Delhi—regions where Congress is expected to perform relatively well.
“Her schedule is still being finalized, but we aim to include as many outreach activities as possible,” remarked another Congress leader involved in the planning.
One leader mentioned that they hope to assign campaign duties between the Gandhi siblings to optimize coverage in constituencies with strong prospects for Congress.
“We plan to cover those seats where we have a good chance of winning between Rahul and Priyanka. In a few constituencies, both Gandhis will campaign together,” stated a Congress leader.
Priyanka's later entry into the Delhi campaign is viewed as a tactical approach to maintain momentum and prevent voter fatigue.
A senior leader from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) indicated that although Priyanka holds a General Secretary position, she has not been allocated to a specific state, enabling her to campaign across the nation.
Nevertheless, critics question her effectiveness, citing her inability to enhance Congress's reach in Uttar Pradesh, raising doubts about her capability to turn the tide in Delhi.
