Girl power over caste, Congress to reserve 40% seats for women in UP election

Lucknow: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi at a press conference said that the Congress will reserve 40% seats for women in the coming Uttar Pradesh election.

“Women can bring about change and they need to step forward,” Ms Gandhi Vadra said. “This decision is for the girls of Uttar Pradesh… … This decision is for women who want change,” she added.

Traditionally, caste has played a major role in elections in Uttar Pradesh. For the elections due next year, it is likely to be on traditional lines, with the BJP seen as trying to placate the Brahmins.

The so-called upper caste has been miffed with the selection of Yogi Adityanath, a Rajput, for the top post.Ads by

This is seen as a key factor in Ajay Mishra, whose son has been arrested in the case involving running over of farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri, continuing as the junior minister for home at the Centre..

Opposition parties including the Congress have repeatedly called for the minister’s resignation.

Amid this, the Congress is seen as highlighting the gender issue in a state where multiple crimes against women have been reported in the last few years. Some of these cases — including the gangrape of a Dalit woman in Hathras, and the case in Unnao — made headlines and evoked outrage across the country.

Targetting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ms Gandhi Vadra said those who “speak up” in the state are crushed.

Priyanka’s attack on Yogi government

Priyanka Gandhi had also slammed the Yogi Government recently after a lawyer was shot dead in the cout premises, she said that no one is safe in Uttar Pradesh, “The legal and judicial fraternity is an integral pillar of our democracy. The brutal murder of an advocate in broad daylight in court premises in Shahjahanpur is another chilling reminder that no one is safe in today’s UP – not women, not farmers and now not advocates.”