New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra formally entered politics on Wednesday, ending years of speculation, with the Congress appointing her general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East in a move reflecting the party's intent to go full throttle in the state ahead of the general elections.
She will take over her new assignment from the first week February, in the politically crucial state, a Congress bastion till the mid 1980s, a statement from the party said.
Priyanka Gandhi, who on January 12 turned 47, will assist her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the Hindi heartland state, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the largest of any state in the country.
Commenting on Priyanka's appointment as general secretary for Uttar Pradesh east, Rahul Gandhi said, "I am very happy that my sister Priyanka will assist me in UP in the Lok Sabha polls. she is very capable."
Priyanka Gandhi was earlier actively involved in key decision making in the party along with her mother and brother, including the selection of new chief ministers for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh recently.