BIG: UP Congress workers demand Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as CM face for the state elections despite hammering in the Lok Sabha polls

Even as the suspense over the resignation of Congress president Rahul Gandhi continues, Congress workers from Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday demanded that Congress should project Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the party's chief ministerial face ahead of Assembly election 2022 in the state.

As per sources, UP Congress workers urged Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as CM face for the 2020 state elections in Uttar Pradesh. However, Priyanka has not yet responded to the demands of the workers. Priyanka who was touted to be a trump card for Congress in Lok Sabha elections did not contest the elections and the Congress party faced an embarrassing poll-debacle. 

The party workers also said that they don't want any alliance with any regional party or Gathbandhan party for the state elections.   

The Congress workers from 42 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh had assembled at Rae Bareli's Bhueamau Guest House where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on a day-long visit to introspect over the cause of the party's disappointing performance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. She also visited Rae Bareli with her mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday. While Priyanka held meeting with Congress leaders to find out the cause for the party’s defeat in Uttar Pradesh, Sonia Gandhi has come to Rae Bareli to thank the party workers who helped her win from this seat.

After the daylong discussions, Congress workers concluded that weak organisation was the main reason for the party's poor show in Uttar Pradesh during the general election. The party workers also said in future Congress should fight all elections alone without stitching an alliance with any party whatsoever. 

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reprimanded Congress workers for not giving their best to make sure the party won the Lok Sabha polls resulting into a humiliating defeat in the state.

"I did not want to deliver any speech but since I have been made to speak, let me speak the truth. The truth is that this election was won with the help of Sonia Gandhi and the people of Raebareli," a visibly upset Priyanka said at a thanksgiving rally after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi won the election from Raebareli.

READ: "Let Me Speak The Truth": Priyanka Gandhi Reprimands Congress Workers For Not Giving Their Best In 2019 Lok Sabha Elections

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, on her maiden visit to Raebareli after the Lok Sabha victory, attacked the BJP, saying that all type of tactics were adopted to win the Lok Sabha elections.

"All type of tactics were adopted to woo the voters. Everyone in this country knows whether it was moral and immoral what happened in the elections. I feel this is the greatest misfortune that limits of dignity are crossed to retain the power," Sonia said at a thanksgiving rally.

Priyanka had campaigned vigorously in favour of Congress candidates in UP, especially in Raebareli and Amethi but the party lost all the seats in UP with Raebareli being the only exception. Several senior party leaders including Congress President Rahul Gandhi had to suffer defeat in the elections with the Congress party losing their bastion of Amethi.

After the Lok Sabha debacle, Priyanka faces an uphill task to strengthen the party cadre in the state in view of the upcoming bypoll and the Assembly elections due in 2022. Congress put a poor show in the Lok Sabha elections by winning a meagre 53 seats. 

READ: Priyanka Gandhi to visit UP for the first time after Congress' poll debacle. Full schedule here