Exclusive interview: Hope Priyanka campaigns for us in UP, says Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi: After a prolonged speculation and debate over the Congress’ Chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming assembly elections, the party has finally picked former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as their CM candidate. After her appointment she spoke exclusively to ABP News. She thanked Congress high command for the responsibility. “This is Congress High Commands decision and I accept this challenge with humility and thankfulness,” she told ABP News. On question whether she was reluctant to assume the responsibility she said: “Yes, naturally when you do something new, you are a little bit reluctant. But now when the responsibility is given, we will toil hard and would do so with full passion.” She said she still has to chalk out strategy for Congress in UP. “Me, office bearers and party leaders will sit together and chalk out a strategy. But we have confidence that we would do better these elections,” she said. “Congress having no number is an old thing. In the future, Congress will have numbers,” she answered on a question. “Priyanka Gandhi is demanded by people, Priyanka Gandhi is demanded by Congress leaders and workers and hence I hope she would campaign for the party,” she said.   Congress on Thurday also appointed actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar as the partys’s Uttar Pradesh President. According to party sources, Sheila being a Brahmin will play a key role in the state, as the state comprises of over 10 per cent Brahmin voters. Dikshit led the Congress to three consecutive electoral victories in Delhi between 1998 and 2013.  Thereafter, she was sworn in as Governor of Kerala on March 11, 2014 and later resigned on August 25, 2014. An official announcement regarding Sheila Dikshit’s candidature was made this afternoon by party general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi.