Rahul Gandhi: I want to change UP. 2012 elections

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said on toay that he is not concerned about win or loss in the high-stakes assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) as his only aim is to restore honour of the people of the state.

Addressing a press conference here, on the last day of campaigning for the 1st phase of polls due to be held on Feb 8, Rahul said, “In the past few months I have learnt, probably, what I learnt in last seven years. I have learnt what it means to be passionately believer in an idea.”

“Frankly I am not concerned about what the results are…what has been going on in UP in the last 22 years is a crime. It is our duty to not accept the misrule and the type of games being played with the people of this state,” he said, adding, “I have realised the power of the people the state. I have realised that this state can stand on its feet very soon.”

“Mission 2012 is not my line…my mission is not to change UP, I want to change UP. 2012 elections, then 2014 elections, Rahul Gandhi will not step backward till the UP stands on its feet,” he stressed.

When asked by a scribe whether he was conceding defeat by talking about ‘being not concerned about election results’, he said, “I am not conceding defeat, I am conceding victory. The results will be solid for the Congress. People of UP are looking at Congress seriously, wherever I go the people are saying this to me. “

“Be it 200 (seats), 400 or 2, till the time people of UP don’t get respect I will be here. We are here not to form alliances with political parties, we will form alliances only with the people of UP,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi: Amarinder Singh would be the next Chief Minister of Punjab

In an unusual move, Punjab PCC Chief Amarinder Singh was today projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Congress by the party's general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

"Amarinder will become the Chief Minister if the Congress is voted to power by your (electorate) support," Mr Gandhi told an election rally in Ferozepur.

The announcement, which the party rarely does before elections, comes less than a week ahead of the January 30 Assembly elections which are expected to witness a keen tussle between the Congress and the Akali Dal-BJP combine.

Amarinder Singh is a former Chief Minister and has been the frontrunner for the post since he was made the PCC President. Former Chief Minister and state CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is another aspirant.

The development is significant as the Congress has not projected any Chief Ministerial candidate in the four poll-bound states including Uttar Pradesh. This is despite the fact that Ibobi Singh of Manipur has been seeking to commit a hat-trick after remaining the Chief Minister for 10 long years. Digambar Kamat has been the Chief Minister of the Congress-led coalition in Goa.

Interestingly, Mr Gandhi's announcement came on a day when the party high command seeking to avoid any dissensions on the leadership issue in Uttar Pradesh dismissed suggestions that it has decided on any Chief Ministerial candidate before elections.

The statement from the Congress central leadership came close on the heels of reports from Pratapgarh where Union Minister Salman Khurshid indicated last night that the state Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tewari could play a bigger role after elections.

Priyanka Gandhi is expected for the coming assembly in UP

Priyanka Gandhi is expected to hold important meetings with the states Congress office bearers on Monday, officially kicking off the election campaigning for the coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

She is also likely to visit Amethi and Rae Bareli, pocket-borough of Nehru-Gandhi family, later today.

This became clear after the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee included her name to the Election Commission in the list of party leaders and personalities, who are likely to campaign for the party in the state.

"Priyanka's name figures along with that of other senior leaders like her mother AICC president Sonia Gandhi for whom the party has sought car passes from the Election Commission for campaigning," Congress sources said.

Reports also claim that Priyanka might lead the campaign in Amethi and Rae Bareli districts, which are represented by her brother Rahul and mother respectively in the Lok Sabha.

"It is to facilitate her (Priyanka's) visit, in case she decides to visit the state during electioneering for the coming elections, and ensure that there is no problem in making arrangements for it at the last minute," they said.

Priyanka, 39, had taken primary membership of the Congress in 2004 but has remained away from active politics. The sources said there is a demand for Priyanka Gandhi from all over the state but she is expected to confine herself to Rae Bareli and Amethi districts.

As Rahul will be busy with campaigning in other parts of state and Sonia is likely to divide her time among all the five states where assembly elections are scheduled, Priyanka would take care of these two districts.

"She has a personal rapport with the people of these two constituencies and it is like a second home to her," the sources said, adding that she had been a frequent visitor to these areas and had also taken part in campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

It will be a seven-phased poll in Uttar Pradesh between February 4 and 28.