EXCLUSIVE | 'I May, Why Not': Priyanka Gandhi On Contesting UP Assembly Polls 2022

Congress which could win only seven seats in the 403-member UP house in 2017 polls has decided to put its bet on women in the elections early next year.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a press conference at the party office in Lucknow, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (PTI Photo)

Lucknow: A day after being nominated as Congress' face in the election campaign for the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year by PL Punia, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday hinted at even contesting the polls.

While speaking to ABP News exclusively, Priyanka Gandhi said that we will have to fight our own battle.

When asked about her plans to contest UP elections next year, Priyanka Gandhi did not give a clear answer and rather said, "We will see, why not."

"We did a detailed discussion on the 40 per cent reservation for women. I was, in fact in favour of giving 50 per cent seats to the women. The idea first came to me two years back when I was traveling to various parts of UP," she said.

"I will fight my own battle. Women should understand that we have to fight for ourselves," Priyanka Gandhi added.

Furthermore hitting at other parties such as Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Priyanka Gandhi said that no other opposition parties have been fighting on the ground, except for Congres. 

Additionally, facing an uphill task of consolidating its support base in poll-bound states, Congress has said that it will give 40 per cent tickets to women in the coming assembly elections slated for early next year.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh made this announcement at a news conference in Lucknow, saying the decision is aimed at making women, who constitute roughly half the vote bank, a "full-fledged partner in power".

Congress which could win only seven seats in the 403-member UP house in 2017 polls has decided to put its bet on women in the elections early next year.

It is the party's promise to give 40 per cent tickets to women in the coming elections. Had I had my way, I would have given 50 per cent tickets to them, Priyanka said, adding it could be taken forward in the 2024 elections.

"There is no hidden meaning behind it. We want women in politics to become full-fledged partners in power. We have decided that in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress party will give 40 per cent of tickets to women," she said.