New Delhi: Congress Party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has vowed to dedicate 40% of the party's tickets in Uttar Pradesh to women, in an effort to inspire women empowerment. The decision would be based on merit and not just caste or class, she explained.
"This decision is for the girls of Uttar Pradesh… ... This decision is for women who want change," she said at a press conference in Lucknow. "No one protects women. I have taken this decision for women's empowerment...There is no other political motive, agenda behind this decision."
"Targetting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ms Gandhi Vadra said those who "speak up" in the state are crushed. The decision to field women will prove to be a challenge in UP politics which is dominated along caste and class lines.
On Sunday, the Congress had also announced its decision to field Priyanka Gandhi as the face of its campaign in UP via newly-appointed party campaign committee P.L Punia. Punia highlighted that Priyanka Gandhi fought for truth on all issues and when the Lakhimpur Kheri incident happened, she immediately left to meet the family of the victims, and was detained in Sitapur, but remained determined in her quest for justice.