It’s An Open Question For Now: Priyanka Gandhi On Contesting UP Polls

Priyanka Gandhi, while replying to a question if she will contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, said,"It is an open question for now."

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who set off speculation that she be may the chief ministerial face for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, said she simply made a “tongue-in-cheek remark” while stressing that it is “not fair to assume” anything ahead of the election. Priyanka Gandhi, however, left an open-ended reply when asked if she will contest Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election.

“You don’t know yet whether I am or not. It is an open question for now. I may well…I may well. I have left this discussion for a little bit later. So when we do decide, we will let you know,” Priyanka Gandhi was quoted as saying by NDTV.

On Friday, Priyanka Gandhi, while replying to question on who will be the Congress’ chief ministerial face in Uttar Pradesh, quipped, “Aapko koi aur chehra dikh raha Hai (Can you see any other face).”

Responding to this, Priyanka Gandhi told NDTV that a discussion is on if she will contest the Uttar Pradesh polls or not and it will be announced after a final call is made on the decision. “I made a tongue-in-cheek remark. I don’t think it is fair to assume that. I am considering fighting. The discussion is on. When we come to some consensus, we will let you know,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

Comment being made in an ‘exaggerated way’: Priyanka Gandhi

Priyanka Gandhi also said that her comment about being the face of the party was made in a “slight exaggerated way” in response to repeated queries from the media on the issue. “Main ye nahi keh rahi hun ki main he chehra hun. Vo to maine thoda bad ke kah diya kyunki baar, baar aap log yahi sawal kar rahe hain. (I am not saying that I am the only face, I said that in a slightly exaggerated way because you keep asking the question time and again),” Priyanka Gandhi told ANI on Saturday.

“There are so many States and they have in-charges whether it is Congress or BJP. Do you ask them whether they are chief ministerial face or not? Why don’t you ask them? Why is this question being put to me?” Priyanka Gandhi said.

#WATCH | I am not saying that I am the (CM) face (of Congress in the Uttar Pradesh elections)… I said that (you can see my face everywhere) in irritation because you all were asking the same question again & again: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on her pic.twitter.com/mDIWc9iG8g

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2022

Asked if there was hesitation about declaring the party’s chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi said “where is the hesitation”. “Our party decides the face of the Chief Minister at some places, at some places we do not. This is the manner of our party, there is no hesitation,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

Last year, veteran Congress leader Salman Khurshid said that the party would contest the UP assembly polls under Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s leadership and she herself would decide on the issue of whether she would be party’s chief ministerial candidate or not.