New Delhi: Describing AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the most popular political figure in Uttar Pradesh at present, Congress leader PL Punia on Sunday said she will be the face of the election campaign of the oldest party in the state.
Punia, who has been given the charge of the election campaign committee in Uttar Pradesh, said the Congress has rarely announced a chief ministerial face.
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The Congress leader said not declaring anyone so far will not affect the party’s prospects as it already has a personality like Priyanka Gandhi leading the charge against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Expressing confidence, Punia said that it is a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, with both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) “falling behind” and “not in a fight anymore”. .
Praising Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress leader said that she has fought for truth on all issues.
She said that when the Lakhimpur Kheri incident happened, she immediately went to meet the families of the victims, and was detained in Sitapur, but persevered in the quest for justice.
Punia further said that she was “successful” in her struggle and had gone to Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich to meet the families of the victims.
“Even before this – the Sonbhadra, Unnao or Hathras incidents – Priyanka Gandhi fought for justice,” he said.
Underlining that the people of Uttar Pradesh are influenced by Priyanka Gandhi, Punia said that at present no politician is more popular than her in the entire state.
As far as the campaign will be focused, we are fortunate that Priyanka Gandhi is available for (campaign) all the time, Punia said in an interview to PTI.
“The election campaign will revolve around Priyanka Gandhi,” he said.
Earlier, highlighting the violence at Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, the Congress leader hit out at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for defending the perpetrators.
Punia said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and justice for farmers would be important issues in the upcoming elections and added that the way farmers were “trampled” was a condemnable incident.
“What was more frightening was that those in power provided protection to the criminals (crime). Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that no one will be arrested without evidence, indicating that it is wrong to demand the arrest of the Union minister’s son.
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Accusing the ruling party of indulging in communal polarization to divert attention from the real issues including the plight of farmers, price rise and law and order situation, Punia said: “It is always the case with BJP-RSS people that When they see that they are losing on issues like governance, law and order situation, in case of state crime, in case of crimes against women, in crimes and atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, hence find themselves angry. Number one is to protect from. People, they resort to polarization.”
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