Cong hopes to gain through Priyanka's campaign in UP

Apparently enthused by the crowds at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's roadshows in parts of central Uttar Pradesh, the grand old party hopes to make electoral gains in the state in the next phases of polling.

Priyanka, who was also the in-charge of the eastern UP region, has been holding roadshows in the constituencies going to the polls in the next phases of polling.

Priyanka held roadshows at Unnao, Kanpur and Jhansi, where polling would be held on Monday. She also conducted roadshow at Barabanki.

According to the UP Congress leaders here, the star campaigner of the party plans to hold roadshows and address election rallies in the constituencies, where the party candidates are in a ''better'' position.

''We are focussing on the seats, where our candidates can win...the roadshow and rallies by Priyanka will further brighten their chances there,'' said a senior UP Congress leader.

Congress leaders said that the roadshows by Priyanka have been attracting good crowds. ''At some places the BJP tried to disrupt the roadshows by sending their workers there to create trouble...it shows their fear,'' said one leader.

The leader said that Priyanka was in ''heavy'' demand and more and more candidates were now requesting the party leadership to send her to their constituencies.

He said that there were at least half a dozen seats in the eastern UP region, where the party's prospect was ''good''. ''We have already made the fight triangular on those seats and a little push can tilt the scale in our favour,'' he added.

He said that Priyanka's campaign had ''boosted'' the morale of the party workers while giving jitters to the rivals.

It remains to be seen Priyanka is able to infuse a new lease of life into the grand old party.