CONGRESS VETERAN SHEILA DIKSHIT NAMED PARTY’S CM CANDIDATE FOR UTTAR PRADESH FOR..

CONGRESS VETERAN SHEILA DIKSHIT NAMED PARTY’S CM CANDIDATE FOR UTTAR PRADESH FOR NEXT YEAR ASSEMBLY POLLS

New Delhi: Congress veteran Sheila Dikshit has been named the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the next year Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Election strategist Prashant Kishor had recommended that Ms. Dikshit should play a major role in the party’s poll campaign in the State as she is a prominent Brahmin face and could help Congress regain the support of the electorally sizeable community.

Ms. Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of prominent Congress leader from U.P. Uma Shankar Dikshit, who was a Brahmin face and had served as a Union Minister and Governor for a long time.

Early this month, Ms. Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister, said as UP’s “daughter-in-law” she was ready to play any role in the State.

Ms. Dikshit met party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi last month during which she was said to have been sounded by them for a leading role in UP.

The Brahmin community, a traditional vote bank of Congress, had shifted allegiance to the BJP in the aftermath of the Mandir-Mandal politics and a section in Congress feels it should make efforts to win back the support of the community.

A large chunk of Brahmin votes had also gone to Mayawati’s BSP in the past when she gave ticket to many candidates belonging to the community.

The community’s support determines the poll outcome in several seats in central and eastern U.P.