Alld Cong zeroing in on office space for Priyanka

PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 21 (HS): Congress general secretary incharge for Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi twin visits to Allahabad, her ancestral home town in quick session of less than 10 days has left tongues wagging with political overtones. Efforts are being accelerated by local Congress unit to set up a spacious office of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra here that can accommodate thousands of people at a time. Congress leaders are identifying buildings or premises that can be zeroed in to serve Gandhi scion’s political needs and purposes ahead of 2022 UP Assembly polls. Among the probable places is Swaraj Bhawan, the ancestral home of the Nehru family.

However, in a candid discussion with HS ex-Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari, who accompanied Priyanka Gandhi along with her MLA daughter Aradhna Mishra during Allahabad visit opined, “There had been a zonal office here at Prayagraj during last elections and would be again in next election. She (Priyanka) can visit the city frequently and stay at Swaraj Bhawan, meet party workers and public but she cannot open an office there as the property belongs to a trust.”

“For Congress party workers, the series of tweets from Priyanka herself following her ‘Sangam snan’ and interaction with Nishad community in Baswar village on Sunday suggests a crucial message not just in terms of larger religious outreach but also addressing the caste dynamics ahead of UP polls. Priyanka’s tweet thanking her boatman Sanjay Nishad and later visiting Baswar village on his request deserves special attention. Priyanka started her campaign in an informal way by taking a dip in the Sangam on Mauni Amavasya and she wants to make Prayagraj the main centre for 2022 assembly elections,” spokesperson of party’s minority wing, Javed Urfi said.

Kishore Varshaney, spokesperson UPCC claimed, “Everything has been finalized. Opening an office here and Priyanka Gandhi being actively involved in the functioning of the office will give a major boost to the morale of party workers in the coming elections. Her presence would have a positive impact on the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat, represented by Nehruji, which even she can contest to reclaim ancestral legacy, besides bringing Congress in reckoning in Purvanchal area.”

Another Congress leader Irshad Ullah while speaking to HS claimed that several buildings have been zeroed in on for her office. “But we are looking for a premises with a seating arrangement of at least a thousand people with 10 to 12 rooms to accommodate stay of outstation leaders. The building will be zeroed in on shortly and office could be inaugurated in Chaitra Navratra,” he said before accompanying Priyanka to airport.