Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has her eyes set on the high-stakes 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, and her latest moves signal a strong push to strengthen the party's organisation, firm up its alliance strategy and gear up for an intensive campaign in the state.With the INDIA opposition bloc's mega rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi now over, she has turned her attention to UP.It is a state where Priyanka has been deeply involved in the political battleground for decades, even before she formally entered electoral politics.PRIYANKA SWINGS INTO ACTIONWith the UP Assembly elections fast approaching, Priyanka Gandhi has swung into action in the state, asking party leaders to put together teams and step up preparations for the crucial polls.She held a closed-door meeting with three senior Congress leaders from Uttar Pradesh at her residence, with discussions focusing on the formation of various committees and the allocation of responsibilities ahead of the electoral battle.The meeting was attended by UP Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, state president Aradhana Mishra and working president Imran Masood. Encouraged by the show of strength at the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally, the Wayanad MP is learnt to have pressed for an early start to organisational preparations.A source said she insisted on shortlisting names for various state-level committees, stressing that there was little time left to put the Congress's election machinery in place.KEY POLL PANELS FINALISED The meeting at Priyanka's residence saw discussions on, and the finalisation of, names for several key committees, including the manifesto committee, management committee, campaign committee and coordination committee.The proposed lists will be forwarded to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for approval and are expected to be released after Diwali.Significantly, Priyanka Gandhi has continued as Congress general secretary without a specific portfolio since relinquishing charge as the party's Uttar Pradesh in-charge following the 2022 Assembly elections.However, she has emerged as one of the Congress's most prominent campaigners across the country, playing an active role in the party's campaign during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, including in Uttar Pradesh.TROUBLESHOOTER FOR CONGRESS-SP ALLIANCE?A crucial component of the Congress's electoral preparations will be the formation of a committee to oversee its ties with the Samajwadi Party (SP).The panel will deal with contentious issues such as seat-sharing, communication between the two parties and coordination of their respective organisational machinery on the ground.Priyanka Gandhi is likely to be part of this committee, potentially playing a key role in negotiations and liaison with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.Her involvement assumes significance given her role in resolving the Congress-SP seat-sharing deadlock ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.When negotiations hit a roadblock, it was Priyanka who intervened and reached out to Akhilesh to iron out differences and facilitate an agreement.A senior Congress leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Alliance talks are already delayed, and Priyanka Gandhi's entry would ensure that things are expedited.
With the SP being the bigger player, a lot of troubleshooting is required, and she will be able to strike a respectable bargain for the Congress."BACKROOM STRATEGIST AND STAR CAMPAIGNEREven as Priyanka Gandhi prepares to play a leading role in shaping the Congress's backroom electoral strategy, she is also expected to take an active role on the campaign trail in the coming weeks.While her brother and Rae Bareli MP, Rahul Gandhi, kicks off the party's campaign in Punjab with a rally in Sangrur on November 4, Priyanka is expected to spearhead the Congress's campaign across Uttar Pradesh after Diwali.Four major rallies are in the pipeline, covering the politically significant regions of Purvanchal, Awadh, Bundelkhand and Western Uttar Pradesh.A detailed campaign schedule is expected to be drawn up shortly, outlining rallies and public outreach programmes for Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders.With organisational restructuring, alliance management and an extensive campaign plan taking shape, Priyanka Gandhi is poised to play a pivotal role in steering the Congress's preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.- Ends