Priyanka to chalk out UP 'strategy' during maiden visit

Newly appointed Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be accorded a "historic" welcome when she arrives here on Monday with her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

According to state Congress leaders, Priyanka would hold a roadshow from the airport to the party headquarters here covering a distance of around 9 km.

"It is going to be a historic reception for Priyankaji...thousands of party workers and supporters will be greeting her all along the way to the party office," said a UP Congress leader while speaking to DH here on Saturday.

Priyanka would also be garlanding the statues of important leaders on the way, he added.

Priyanka will be in the state capital till Thursday while Rahul will return on Monday itself.

UP Congress sources said that during her stay Priyanka, who is also the in-charge for the eastern UP region, would be meeting party workers from different Lok Sabha constituencies in the region.

"Her focus is on meeting booth level workers...she will be discussing the strategy for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls...strengthening party organisation at the grassroots level will top her agenda," the leader said.

Priyanka is also likely to take the holy dip at the Sangam (the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers) at Prayagraj with Rahul.

The star campaigner of the Congress may also visit Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and pay obeisance at the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Congress leaders said enthusiastic party workers from across the state have already started arriving in the state capital to welcome Priyanka on her maiden visit here.