Congress pins hope on Priyanka Gandhi to change fortune in UP

Priyanka Gandhi could soon be pitchforked as the top campaigner for the Congress in the poll- bound Uttar Pradesh while veteran leader Shiela Dikshit is likely to be projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the key state.

Indications to this effect were available today with AICC leaders suggesting a formal nod is awaited from the Congress President Sonia Gandhi's daughter.

Speaking separately, Dikshit herself asserted that as the state's "daughter-in-law" she was ready to play any role in the politically-crucial state.

AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, has already favoured Priyanka getting pro-active in campaigning all over the state.

He has also expressed the possibility of the Congress projecting a CM candidate.

At the Congress briefing today, party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala faced a volley of questions on Priyanka becoming the campaign chief of the party in Uttar Pradesh and Dikshit its Chief Ministerial candidate.

Not ruling out both the possibilities, his reply was that Azad has given a "blueprint for action" to Sonia Gandhi on Uttar Pradesh and the party would make an announcement whenever a decision is taken.

Surjewala noted that so far Priyanka has been campaigning in Parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli and it was for her to decide on canvassing support for the party all over the state.

He said he would not speculate on the issue. "If and when any decision is taken regarding the role of Priyanka Gandhi, we will share it with the media," he said.