In a significant move hinting at her renewed political involvement, the Uttar Pradesh Congress is set to launch two major outreach initiatives on Monday, January 12, 2026, coinciding with the birthday of party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This marks a potential comeback for Priyanka in the state's political landscape, which she had largely stepped back from following the party's dismal performance in the 2022 Assembly elections.
From Setback to Strategic Comeback
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's formal entry into active politics in 2019, as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh, was met with great optimism. State leaders believed her charisma and direct approach would spearhead the party's revival ahead of the crucial 2022 polls. However, the electoral outcome was a severe blow, with the Congress managing to win only two seats. Subsequently, Priyanka receded from the forefront of party affairs in UP and was effectively absent from the state by late 2023.
Now, over two years later, the state unit is deliberately tying its flagship programs to her birthday, sending a clear signal to the party cadre and the political observers that the Wayanad MP is being positioned for an active and pivotal role in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections. This perception is further bolstered by her recent heightened visibility at the national level, where she was credited as the architect of the Congress's "MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan" and drew attention for her speech in Parliament during the Vande Mataram debate.
The Twin-Pronged Outreach Strategy
The Uttar Pradesh Congress will announce a structured 100-day political action plan across the state. According to a circular issued by state Congress president Ajay Rai, senior leaders including sitting and former MPs and MLAs will launch this plan in their respective regions. Key figures involved include MPs like Imran Masood (Saharanpur), Ujjwal Raman Singh (Prayagraj), Tanuj Punia (Devipatan), and Rajeev Shukla (Meerut), along with MLA Virendra Chaudhary (Azamgarh) and former Union ministers Salman Khurshid (Ghaziabad) and Pradeep Jain Aditya (Chitrakoot).
Simultaneously, the party's Other Backward Classes (OBC) wing will initiate a year-long "Parivartan Pratigya (Pledge for Change)" campaign, aimed at highlighting issues of social justice. The 100-day action plan will feature "Samvidhan Samvaad Mahapanchayats" (public meetings on the Constitution), rallies targeting the BJP governments at the state and centre, and grassroots outreach through nukkad (corner) meetings and seminars. The campaign will focus on a range of issues from the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to changes in the MGNREGA law.
Building Towards 2027
A senior Congress leader explained that after a year-long focus on cadre building through the "Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan," this 100-day campaign is the party's first major public outreach in preparation for the 2027 polls. The mahapanchayats will culminate in a Lucknow rally expected to be attended by Priyanka Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The Parivartan Pratigya campaign will conclude with a major rally in early 2027.
During her previous active phase in UP, Priyanka was the party's aggressive face, confronting the Yogi Adityanath government and launching campaigns like "Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon." She also led protests after the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Her disappearance after the 2022 defeat left a void as the party struggled to regain momentum. Congress sources now indicate that the party aims to build on its improved performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and prepare for the 2027 battle with Priyanka as a central figure in the campaign narrative, potentially marking her formal return to the heart of Uttar Pradesh politics.
