Priyanka Gandhi will be face of Congress' election campaign in UP: P L Punia

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be the face of the Congress election campaign in Uttar Pradesh partys newlyappointed campaign committee chief P L Punia said on Sunday asserting the AICC general secretary is the most popular political figure in the state at presentPunia who on Friday was named as the head of the key 20member election campaign committee of the Congress for the UP polls next year noted that very rarely has the Congress announced a chief ministerial face and said that not having declared one till now will not hamper the partys chances as it already has a personality like Priyanka Gandhi to lead the charge against the BJPIt is a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP in the UP polls as both the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have fallen behind and were not in the fight anymore Punia told PTI in an interviewPunia said Priyanka Gandhi has fought for truth on all issues and when the Lakhimpur Kheri incident happened she immediately left to meet the family of the victims and was detained in Sitapur but remained determined in her quest for justiceHe said she was successful in her struggle and went to Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich to met the families of the victimsAlso read PM Modi came to Lucknow but did not visit kin of Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims Priyanka GandhiPunia said earlier also be it Sonbhadra Unnao or Hathras incidents Priyanka Gandhi had fought for justiceSo the people are impressed by her and currently in the entire state no politician is more popular than Priyanka Gandhi As far as around whom the campaign will be centred we are fortunate that Priyanka Gandhi is available for campaigning all the time he saidThere are always demands from other states for Priyanka Gandhi to campaign and hold one or two meetings but in UP she is available 24X7 Punia saidPriyanka Gandhi ji hi humara ek chehra hongi jinke irdgird poora election campaign chalega the election campaign will be revolve around Priyanka Gandhi he saidPunia also said the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and justice for farmers would be important issues in the elections asserting that the way the farmers were trampled upon was a condemnable incidentWhat was more appalling was that those in power gave protection to the perpetrators of the crime Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said no one will be arrested without evidence which was an indication that seeking arrest of the Union ministers son is wrong Punia saidChief Minister Adityanath and Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra were both guilty of protecting the accused in the case he allegedPunia said real justice will be done when the minister is removed and pointed out that a high level delegation under Rahul Gandhi has also met President Ram Nath Kovind to press for this demandAsked if having not declared a CM face till now would hamper the Congress chances in the UP polls Punia said the Congress rarely declares a CM face whether it is Uttar Pradesh or other statesPeople talk about a CM face as votes are sought on that face for us the biggest face is that of Priyanka Gandhi and the affection that people have for her cannot be matched by any person who is declared a CM face So for us we have such a personality who will be helpful for us in polls in every way he assertedPunia also accused the BJP of indulging in communal polarisation to divert attention from real issues such as farmers plight price rise and the state of law and orderIt is always the case with BJPRSS people that when they see that they are losing on issues such as governance law and order situation the state is no 1 in terms of crime in terms of crimes against women in crimes and atrocities against scheduled castes and scheduled tribes so to save themselves from the anger of the people they resort to polarisation he allegedThey raise mandir construction create HinduMuslim divide project themselves as the sole well wishers of Hindus They will try all this but this has become a dated strategy people are concerned about issues such as price rise and development and will not fall for Yogi Adityanaths polarisation plank the Congress leader saidOn whether votes will get divided with the Opposition unity missing Punia said the SP and BSP have fallen behindEarlier people thought that they were in fight but it is not so anymore The Congress is in the fight and only the Congress an upstage the BJP The Congress and the BJP are in a direct fight he saidThe BJP is feeling threatened by the Congress and that is why their leadership attacks the Congress not the SP and BSP Punia claimedThe Congress on Friday constituted different panels for the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls with Punia being named head of the crucial campaign committeePriyanka Gandhi has been constantly taking up issues of the people and will keep doing so Punia saidHe said people realise that she has been fighting for justice and these sentiments are bound to translate into votes So definitely the Congress has an upper hand in polls he 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