New Delhi / AMN
Former Delhi Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit has been named as the chief ministerial candidate of the Congress for the election bound Uttar Pradesh.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad made this announcement at a press conference here.
78-year-old Dikshit’s choice for the top post comes amid speculations that Prashant Kishor, who has been roped in as the party’s poll strategist for Uttar Pradesh, is of the view that a Brahmin face represents the Congress in the politically crucial state.
This move can be seen as an attempt on the Congress Party’s part to win back its traditional upper caste voters. The community, a traditional vote bank of the Congress, later shifted allegiance to the BJP.
A large chunk of Brahmin votes had also gone to the BSP in the past when party supremo Mayawati gave tickets to many candidates belonging to the community.
Dikshit had earlier last month met the Congress top brass amid speculation that she may be made the party’s chief ministerial face for next year’s assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.