Uttar Pradesh elections 2017: No information about Priyanka Gandhi getting state assignment - Congress

Feigning ignorance over demands of giving responsibility of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh to Priyanka Gandhi, Congress incharge for the state Madhusudan Mistry today said he had "no such information". "There is no such information nor any discussion (of giving responsibility of Congress affairs in Uttar Pradesh to Priyanka Gandhi)...those who are saying it must be knowing more," he told a press conference here. 

UPCC chief Nirmal Khatri, who was present at the press conference, said though some suggestions have been made to have a chief ministerial face, it has been left for the high command to take a decision. Mistry also said he was not aware from where some media reports suggesting that Rahul Gandhi will be declared as chief ministerial candidate have surfaced. He said Congress will go alone in the coming assembly polls. 

Mistry was responding to a question whether the party will contest the coming elections in the state with BSP which had lent support to Congress in Uttarakhand. Asked about chances of his party going along with JD(U), he said there are still 10 months to go for the polls and it is very early to say anything. "In the present scenario, the party is fully prepared to contest alone on all seats," he said.

"After the results of the ongoing elections in some states later this month the process of preparations in the state will start," Mistry said.

He said that by the end of this month or early next month, large number of workers drawn from all constituencies and nyay samitis level are likely to have interaction with Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow.

District and block level heads have been asked to prepare a list of pressing issues at the local level for inclusion in the party manifesto, he said.

On the issues being discussed at the meeting of block presidents earlier in the day with election strategist Prashant Kishor, Khatri said suggestions have come for early declaration of candidates and that "outsiders" should not be given importance as in 2012 and all have said that the conditions in the state are conducive for the party. 

Khatri said local issues which could mount pressure on the government will be taken up by the party.