Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to visit Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj today: Sources

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, newly appointed Congress general secretary (UP East), will visit the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on Monday, according to sources. Earlier it was reported that Priyanka Gandhi would officially begin her political career, as the General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh East on February 4 after taking a dip in the Ganga at the Kumbh Mela. Priyanka Gandhi will also meet leaders from Bundelkhand region on Monday.

While former Congress President Sonia Gandhi took a holy dip in the Ganga at the Kumbh Mela in 2001, neither Rahul nor Priyanka have taken a dip on the banks of Sangam. Priyanka Gandhi’s official entry into politics will give the party a much-needed edge in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections later this year.

Although not new to politics, this is the first time she will be at the forefront of developments.

The Congress is expecting the visit to become a virtual launch of its campaign in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of Lok Sabha elections due by May. In-charge of 42 of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi met senior leaders and office bearers of the party constituency-wise during her visit till February 14, the day 40 CRPF jawans were killed in a suicide attack in Kashmir's Pulwama.

Each constituency was allotted a different time to meet the senior leadership, during which all issues related to their areas were discussed in detail, he said.