Priyanka Gandhi on not contesting from Varanasi: Others would have been disappointed if I focused on one seat

“All my candidates are still wanting me to go to their constituencies and I felt that they will be a little disappointed if I focussed only on one place,” she added.

Priyanka is in-charge of 41 Lok Sabha seats in the eastern part of the state. Congress General Secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia is in charge of the remaining constituencies of Uttar Pradesh.

To a question on whether deciding against contesting in the constituency would send a wrong signal, she said, “No I don’t think so…I had said from the start that I will do what my party says…my party decided this and I am happy to follow the instructions.”

There were speculations that Priyanka would be pitted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi but the Congress decided to field Ajai Rai from the seat. She had also hinted that she was open to contest from the seat should her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi approve her candidature.

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Rai managed to poll just 75,000 votes in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and finished third, behind Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal.

The BJP had called Rai’s nomination from Varanasi as the Congress’ affirming to its defeat. Union minister Arun Jaitley had said Priyanka “quietly chickened out of the contest” and that he was disappointed by the party not fielding her. He had also said the myth propagated by the Congress that ‘Priyanka will make a difference’ has been debunked now.

Priyanka was appointed as the Congress’ UP East General Secretary ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.