Congress veteran Sheila Dikshit has been announced as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for next year’s Assembly polls in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.
Election strategist Prashant Kishor had recommended that Dikshit should play a major role in the party’s poll campaign in the state as she is a prominent Brahmin face and could help Congress regain support of the electorally sizeable community.
78-year-old Dikshit said, “It’s a big responsibility, want to thank party high command for believing in me,” while adding that, “going for UP elections with the hope that we will win this time.”
Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister also said, “There are 4 parties in UP – SP, BSP, BJP & Congress. The fight is with all of them.”
Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of prominent Congress leader from UP Uma Shankar Dikshit, who was a Brahmin face and had served as a Union minister and governor for a long time.
Earlier this month, Dikshit had said as UP’s “daughter-in-law” she was ready to play any role in the state. Dikshit had met party President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi last month during which she was said to have been sounded by them for a leading role in UP.
The Brahmin community, a traditional vote bank of Congress, had shifted allegiance to BJP in the aftermath of the Mandir-Mandal politics and a section in Congress feels it should make efforts to win back the support of the community.
A large chunk of Brahmin votes had also gone to Mayawati’s BSP in the past when she gave tickets to many candidates belonging to the community. The community’s support determines the poll outcome in several seats in central and eastern UP.
(Feature image source: Twitter)