Congress names Sheila Dikshit its CM candidate for UP polls next year

Sheila Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister, had said as UP's daughter-in-law she was ready to play any role in the state

Congress veteran Sheila Dikshit today became the party's chief ministerial candidate for 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
 

Election strategist Prashant Kishor had recommended that Dikshit should play a major role in the party's poll campaign in the state as she is a prominent Brahmin face and could help Congress regain support of the electorally sizeable community.

Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of the prominent Congress leader from UP, Uma Shankar Dikshit, who was a Brahmin and had served as a Union minister and governor for a long time.

Earlier this month, Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister, had said as UP's daughter-in-law she was ready to play any role in the state.

Dikshit had met the party President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi last month during which she was said to have been sounded by them for a leading role in UP.

The Brahmin community, a traditional vote bank of Congress, had shifted allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the aftermath of the Mandir-Mandal politics and a section in Congress feels it should make efforts to win back the support of the community.

A large chunk of Brahmin votes had also gone to the Mayawati's Bahujan Ssamaj Party in the past when she gave tickets to many candidates belonging to the community.

The community's support determines the poll outcome in several seats in central and eastern UP.