<p>The Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East). Besides this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has been appointed party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West).&nbsp;</p>

<p>KC Venugopal will take over as Congress general secretary (Organisation).</p>

<p>"The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ashok Gehlot as AICC General Secretary (Organisation)," the letter, signed by Rajasthan chief minister and incumbent party general secretary Ashok Gehlot read.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take charge with effect in the first week of February.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad&nbsp;has been appointed Congress general secretary for Haryana with immediate effect.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad as AICC General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. He will now be AICC General Secretary for Haryana with immediate effect," the letter stated.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. <a href="https://t.co/rkl57AFVzw">pic.twitter.com/rkl57AFVzw</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1087973234983743488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Congress president Rahul Gandhi reacted to the latest development saying,&nbsp;"Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress President Rahul Gandhi: Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics. <a href="https://t.co/fnMeWLyxIm">pic.twitter.com/fnMeWLyxIm</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1087991589375537153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The appointment initiates Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's active participation in country's politics right ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The decision is seen as significant and pivotal for Congress' electoral plan ahead of this year's general elections.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jyotiraditya Scindia appointed Congress General Secretary for<br />
Uttar Pradesh West. KC Venugopal appointed Congress General Secretary (Organisation). <a href="https://t.co/IkrLwCzwLV">https://t.co/IkrLwCzwLV</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1087973764082683904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The move closely follows the announcement of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsp-sp-to-contest-38-seats-each-alliance-will-give-sleepless-nights-to-modi-shah-says-mayawati-189793">SP-BSP alliance</a> in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, leaving Congress out in cold.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati to contest 38 each of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats leaving two seats for other parties in the alliance.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Priyanka Gandhi: Mujhe personally bahut khushi ho rahi hai ki woh ab mere saath kaam karengi, woh bahut karmat hain. Jyotiraditya Scindia bhi bahut dynamic leader hain. BJP wale ghabraaye hue hain. <a href="https://t.co/8QpfJjJdO3">pic.twitter.com/8QpfJjJdO3</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1087993006299533312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>SP-BSP alliance will not field any candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli and will leave both the seats for the Congress, BSP chief Mayawati said earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an interview with news agency PTI, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-kept-out-of-up-alliance-to-correct-poll-arithmetic-akhilesh-yadav-191942">SP chief Akhilesh Yadav</a>&nbsp;said that despite his "immense respect" for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the grand old party was kept out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh to correct "poll arithmetic" in order to defeat the BJP.</p>

<p>Without ruling out the possibility of working with the Congress after polls, Akhilesh said he has good relations with the party and would be "happy" if the next prime minister was from his home state.</p>

<p>Asked if the SP was open to working with Congress after the polls, Akhilesh said, "We can't answer it right now. We will answer it after the elections. But I can say this much that the country wants a new prime minister and it will have one after polls".</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday clarified that the Congress has no "enmity" with BSP supremo Mayawati and that Congress will "cooperate with them wherever possible."</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from agencies</em>)</p>


The Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East). Besides this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has been appointed party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West).

The Congress on Wednesday appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East). Besides this, Jyotiraditya Scindia has been appointed party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (West). KC Venugopal will take over as Congress general secretary (Organisation). "The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ashok Gehlot as AICC General Secretary (Organisation)," the letter, signed by Rajasthan chief minister and incumbent party general secretary Ashok Gehlot read. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take charge with effect in the first week of February. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has been appointed Congress general secretary for Haryana with immediate effect. "The party appreciates the contribution of Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad as AICC General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh. He will now be AICC General Secretary for Haryana with immediate effect," the letter stated. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. pic.twitter.com/rkl57AFVzw — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × Congress president Rahul Gandhi reacted to the latest development saying, "Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics." Congress President Rahul Gandhi: Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia are powerful leaders. We wanted the young leaders to change Uttar Pradesh politics. pic.twitter.com/fnMeWLyxIm — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × The appointment initiates Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's active participation in country's politics right ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The decision is seen as significant and pivotal for Congress' electoral plan ahead of this year's general elections. Jyotiraditya Scindia appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh West. KC Venugopal appointed Congress General Secretary (Organisation). https://t.co/IkrLwCzwLV — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × The move closely follows the announcement of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, leaving Congress out in cold. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati to contest 38 each of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats leaving two seats for other parties in the alliance. Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Priyanka Gandhi: Mujhe personally bahut khushi ho rahi hai ki woh ab mere saath kaam karengi, woh bahut karmat hain. Jyotiraditya Scindia bhi bahut dynamic leader hain. BJP wale ghabraaye hue hain. pic.twitter.com/8QpfJjJdO3 — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2019 × SP-BSP alliance will not field any candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli and will leave both the seats for the Congress, BSP chief Mayawati said earlier this month. In an interview with news agency PTI, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said that despite his "immense respect" for Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the grand old party was kept out of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh to correct "poll arithmetic" in order to defeat the BJP. Without ruling out the possibility of working with the Congress after polls, Akhilesh said he has good relations with the party and would be "happy" if the next prime minister was from his home state. Asked if the SP was open to working with Congress after the polls, Akhilesh said, "We can't answer it right now. We will answer it after the elections. But I can say this much that the country wants a new prime minister and it will have one after polls". Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday clarified that the Congress has no "enmity" with BSP supremo Mayawati and that Congress will "cooperate with them wherever possible." (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Congress appoints Priyanka Gandhi Vadra general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East

<p>Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had a role to play in stitching together the JD(S)-Congress combine in Karnataka, a news report has said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The DNA newspaper reported Wednesday that it was at Priyanka's suggestion that Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered the Karnataka chief ministership to the JD(S).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rahul had earlier turned down the idea of a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S).&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had in February called the JD(S) a "B team involved in an undercover arrangement with the BJP".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka had begun with Sonia Gandhi calling Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who in turn called JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After it was agreed that Kumaraswamy would be the chief minister of a JD(S)-Congress government, things began to swing into motion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The DNA report however added that the turn of events in Karnataka have again put a question mark over Rahul's ability to stitch together alliances. And that should the opposition stitch together a grand alliance to counter the BJP in the 2019 elections, the alliance partners might have trouble accepting Rahul as their prime ministerial candidate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The DNA report added that the developments in Karnataka may lead to claims for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi — who has of late been having troubles with her health — to return to active politics.&nbsp;</p>


The DNA newspaper reported Wednesday that it was at Priyanka's suggestion that Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered the Karnataka chief ministership to the JD(S)

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had a role to play in stitching together the JD(S)-Congress combine in Karnataka, a news report has said. The DNA newspaper reported Wednesday that it was at Priyanka's suggestion that Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered the Karnataka chief ministership to the JD(S). Rahul had earlier turned down the idea of a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S). He had in February called the JD(S) a "B team involved in an undercover arrangement with the BJP". The JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka had begun with Sonia Gandhi calling Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who in turn called JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy. After it was agreed that Kumaraswamy would be the chief minister of a JD(S)-Congress government, things began to swing into motion. The DNA report however added that the turn of events in Karnataka have again put a question mark over Rahul's ability to stitch together alliances. And that should the opposition stitch together a grand alliance to counter the BJP in the 2019 elections, the alliance partners might have trouble accepting Rahul as their prime ministerial candidate. The DNA report added that the developments in Karnataka may lead to claims for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi — who has of late been having troubles with her health — to return to active politics.

Priyanka Gandhi had hand in stitching together JD(S)-Congress combine in Karnataka: Report

<p>Controversial BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar fired a shot at India&#39;s Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is a star campaigner in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.The firebrand BJP MP made a derogatory remark against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra &nbsp;saying &quot;she is not the most beautiful star campaigner&quot;.</p>

<p>When asked about Priyanka being named as a star campaigner by Congress for Uttar Pradesh polls, Katiyar said, &quot;It doesn`t matter if she is going to be a star campaigner for the Congress in the upcoming assembly elections. There are number of star campaigners who are more beautiful than her,&quot; Katiyar told ANI news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The remark created a political storm with Congress quickly reacting to the comments, terming it as &quot;petty and insulting culture of BJP that commodifies women&quot;.</p>

<p>Scoffing at Vinay Katiyar for his sexist remarks against her, Priyanka Gandhi reacted immediately, saying it &quot;exposes the BJP&#39;s mindset towards the better half of the country&#39;s population&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="ht">Response from Ms.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as given to <a href="https://twitter.com/Tavysingh">@Tavysingh</a> in response to Mr.Katiyar&#39;s statement <a href="https://t.co/tYLtZpPglv">pic.twitter.com/tYLtZpPglv</a></p>
&mdash; Preeti Sahai (@sahai_preeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/sahai_preeti/status/824164381097390080">January 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said BJP has &quot;insulted&quot; India&#39;s womanhood and such conduct, behaviour and words prove BJP&#39;s mentality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar personal remark against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra created a political storm ?

Controversial BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar fired a shot at India's Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is a star campaigner in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.The firebrand BJP MP made a derogatory remark against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra saying "she is not the most beautiful star campaigner". When asked about Priyanka being named as a star campaigner by Congress for Uttar Pradesh polls, Katiyar said, "It doesn`t matter if she is going to be a star campaigner for the Congress in the upcoming assembly elections. There are number of star campaigners who are more beautiful than her," Katiyar told ANI news agency. The remark created a political storm with Congress quickly reacting to the comments, terming it as "petty and insulting culture of BJP that commodifies women". Scoffing at Vinay Katiyar for his sexist remarks against her, Priyanka Gandhi reacted immediately, saying it "exposes the BJP's mindset towards the better half of the country's population". Response from Ms.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as given to @Tavysingh in response to Mr.Katiyar's statement pic.twitter.com/tYLtZpPglv — Preeti Sahai (@sahai_preeti) January 25, 2017 × Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said BJP has "insulted" India's womanhood and such conduct, behaviour and words prove BJP's mentality. (WION)

Katiyar's remark exposes 'BJP's mindset', says Priyanka