Everyone in Party Decided: Priyanka on Not Fighting From Varanasi

Priyanka Gandhi said that she “wants to focus on the 41 seats in Uttar Pradesh” and is currently “busy campaigning”.

Priyanka Gandhi said she “wants to focus on the 41 seats in Uttar Pradesh” and is currently “busy campaigning” for the party.

(Photo: Kamran Akhter/The Quint)

Days after the Congress announced its decision to field Ajai Rai over Priyanka Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Varanasi seat in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi, in an interview to India Today, has clarified that the Party took the final call on her candidature.

“I had consulted the Congress leaders in Uttar Pradesh (over her possible candidature from Varanasi), and everyone in the party took the final decision (of not fielding her against Modi),” the party general secretary incharge of east Uttar Pradesh, said.

Gandhi said that she “wants to focus on the 41 seats in Uttar Pradesh” and is currently “busy campaigning” for the party.

On Friday, 26 April, Congress leader Sam Pitroda had said it was Priyanka’s own decision to not contest against PM Modi for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat.

"The party president had left the final decision on her,” news agency PTI had quoted Pitroda as saying.

“She decided that she has several responsibilities. She decided that rather than concentrating on one seat, she should focus on the job she has at hand,” Pitroda, who heads the Indian Overseas Congress, had said.

Speculation over a Priyanka-Modi face-off was triggered last month when the Congress’ East UP in-charge herself had hinted at the possibility.

Answering questions from reporters, Priyanka had said she would contest if the party asked her.

PM-KISAN Scheme an Insult to Farmers: Priyanka

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday, 28 April, dubbed the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) an "apmaan" (insult) to farmers, PTI reported.

Gandhi hit out at PM Modi and the BJP over the issue of nationalism, saying it can be best served by listening to the problems of the people and solving it.

Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, she said: "The BJP is, in fact, insulting the farmers in the name of the Kisan Samman Yojana, which the prime minister discusses very much, as it will give only Rs 3.50 per day to the beneficiary. This is 'Kisan Apmaan Yojana' (a scheme to insult the farmers)."

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, Rs 6,000 per year will be given in three instalments to 12 crore small and marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to two hectares.

Comparing the PM-KISAN to the Congress' minimum income guarantee scheme, Nyay, Gandhi said: "On the other hand, the Congress has announced that it will give Rs 6,000 per month to the poor households (if voted to power)."

The Congress general secretary in charge of east Uttar Pradesh said the crop insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, had not helped the farmers during the times of crisis, alleging that it had instead benefited some industrialists of crores.

(With inputs from India Today and PTI)