On Priyanka, guess game still continues

But the party still kept everyone guessing on Priyanka Gandhi, the role she would play in the run-up to the polls. AICC media-incharge Ambika Soni, who announced Rahul and Sonia’s nomination, said the time hadn’t yet come for any announcement on Priyanka.

‘‘Both (Rahul and Priyanka) have been actively involved in the fight for the weaker sections. Both have been working behind the scenes and have been very active. But right now, Rahul Gandhi will fight from Amethi,’’ Soni said, adding that there was demand from within the party that Sonia and her children contest the polls.

On whether Priyanka would only campaign for the party, Soni said there was no distinction between standing for elections and campaigning. ‘‘There is no difference. The Congress president is fighting from a seat and campaigning throughout the country.’’

Sonia and Rahul’s candidature are the first names released for Uttar Pradesh.

‘‘Every election there is great demand that Sonia Gandhi fight from different states like Orissa, Andhra Pradesh. But Rae Bareli has been Indira Gandhi’s seat and they wanted someone from the Gandhi family to fight from there,’’ Soni said.

In another development, film star Govinda today formally joined the Congress and met Sonia in Delhi. There was no word on whether he would be contesting the elections.

In all, the Congress today released 31 names for seats in UPr, Chhattisgarh, J-K, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.