Priyanka cuts short Lucknow visit, flies back to Delhi

Much to the surprise of Congressmen, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cut short her Lucknow visit and flew back to Delhi.

While no reason was cited for her sudden decision to leave early, sources said that she learnt of her mother Sonia Gandhi testing positive for novel coronavirus infection and decided to fly back.

Priyanka had arrived in Lucknow on Wednesday to participate in the two-day ‘Nav Sankalp Shivir’ to discuss the strategy for the party’s revival in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress spokesman Uma Shankar Pandey confirmed on Thursday morning that Priyanka Vadra had left for New Delhi but hastened to add that other senior leaders of the party, including a national general secretary, were camping in Lucknow and the discussions on the outfit’s revival continued for the second day on Thursday.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had actively campaigned for the Congress in the 2022 UP assembly polls but the party could win only two of the 403 seats. The two-day workshop was held at UP Congress headquarters wherein issues related to the Congress’ digital membership campaign, upcoming civic bodies elections, party organisation, politics, economy, agriculture, social justice and youths were discussed.

Speaking at the workshop on Wednesday, Priyanka urged party workers not to be disheartened by the assembly poll results and work with double vigour until they scored a victory in the 2024 general elections.

“We have to move ahead in line with the spirit of ‘Nav Sankalp’ declaration adopted at the Congress party conclave in Udaipur in May,” Priyanka had told party leaders and workers.