India
Sheila Dikshit, former Delhi CM, has been announced the CM candidate for Congress in upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Updated : Jul 14, 2016, 04:35 PM IST
Congress on Thursday announced former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit as the party's Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate.
Speaking to media, Sheila Dikshit said, "I want to thank Congress high command for the responsibility. It is a big responsibility, I want to thank party high command for believing in me. The challenge in Uttar Pradesh is big, but we are confident."
She further added, "We will be going for the elections in UP with the hope that we will win this time. There are 4 parties in UP: SP, BSP, BJP and Congress. The fight is with all of them."
Speaking about Priyanka Gandhi's role in campaigning for the party, Sheila Dikshit said, "I would like her to campaign whenever she wishes to."
Congress' party strategist Prashant Kishor is said to be in favour of a Brahmin face in Uttar Pradesh elections 2017 and is believed to have suggested Dikshit's name. Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of prominent Congress leader from UP Uma Shankar Dikshit, who served as Union minister and governor for a long time.
Earlier this week, Congress appointed actor-turned politician Raj Babbar was appointed the new Uttar Pradesh Congress chief.
The Assembly polls are scheduled to be held early next year in the state, which is currently ruled by the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government.