Congress Bets on Long-Haul Strategy in Uttar Pradesh as Priyanka Gandhi Takes Centre Stage

Lucknow: The Congress has set in motion a fresh and sustained political push in Uttar Pradesh, placing senior leader and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at the heart of a renewed organisational revival plan. The initiative, unveiled from Lucknow, signals the party’s intent to move beyond short-term campaigns and rebuild its presence in India’s most politically crucial state through a structured, multi-year approach.

The programme, named Parivartan Pratigya, is designed as a long-term organisational exercise that will run until 2027, reaching from the state headquarters down to individual polling booths. Congress leaders describe it as an effort to reconnect the party with communities that have historically shaped Uttar Pradesh’s electoral outcomes, particularly backward classes, Dalits, minorities, and young voters.

Party insiders say the launch date was carefully chosen to coincide with Priyanka Gandhi’s birthday, underlining her growing importance in the party’s strategy for Uttar Pradesh. While no formal announcement has been made about her future role, her increased visibility and association with the campaign have intensified political discussion about whether she could become the Congress’s principal face in the state ahead of the next Assembly elections.

The outreach drive places strong emphasis on constitutional values, social justice, and participatory politics. Over the coming months, Congress workers will organise district-level conventions, campus outreach programmes in colleges and universities, and public dialogues focused on constitutional rights. Street meetings, cultural events, and community interactions are also planned as part of a broader attempt to revive grassroots engagement.

Leaders involved in coordinating the campaign say the focus on backward communities is deliberate. With OBC groups forming a significant portion of the electorate, the Congress aims to regain political relevance by addressing issues of representation, employment, education, and social equity. Youth engagement is expected to be a central pillar of the campaign, with special attention on first-time and young voters.

The party plans to roll out a detailed calendar of activities covering an entire year, reinforcing the message that the programme is not a symbolic gesture but a continuous political process. A major public rally in Lucknow is planned at the conclusion of the campaign cycle, intended to showcase organisational strength and political momentum.