New Delhi: The Congress party on Tuesday refused to speculate on whether Priyanka Gandhi would be expanding her area of campaign in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections.


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“We refuse to indulge in speculation. If and when a decision is taken regarding the role of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, we shall be happy to share it (with you),” party spokesman RS Surjewala told the media.


Congress leaders have so far remained tight-lipped over reports that Priyanka Gandhi would be the party's star campaigner in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and also on the issue of elevation of Rahul Gandhi as the party chief.


 


"Whenever it happens, you will know," former Union minister and senior party leader Jairam Ramesh had said earlier.


He had dismissed suggestions that Priyanka taking centrestage in campaigning in Uttar Pradesh showed poorly on the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.


Party veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, has already favoured Priyanka becoming pro-active in campaigning all over the state.


On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Satya Dev Tripathi had said that Priyanka will step out of her family pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli to campaign for the party all over the state.


Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who has been roped in by the Congress to help and assist the party in Uttar Pradesh, has reportedly suggested that if Rahul declines to lead the party in the state, Priyanka by all means should.


Reports have said that Priyanka would lead the campaign in UP and address as many as 150 meetings.


Congress is in political wilderness in UP for the past more than 26 years which saw emergence of Mandal and Mandir issues and the rise of BSP.


Also, Congress has witnessed reverses after reverses in elections since it lost power in the Lok Sabha polls in May 2014 and in which it posted its worst ever performance of 44 seats in the House of 543.


(With PTI inputs)