Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whose political debut was marked with much fanfare, announced her Twitter entry just before her Lucknow roadshow on Monday, February 11. Within a few hours of joining Twitter, one of the most popular platforms of social media, the Twitterati accorded her a grand welcome, with the number of followers crossing the 1,00,000.
Earlier, the Congress Twitter handle announced her entry to the social media platform:
Within the first hour, the number of followers crossed the 25,000 mark, and at the end of the day, the figure stands at 1,11,000.
Priyanka Gandhi has not posted any tweets so far. She has however started following a few people, including her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as well as Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ahmed Patel and the Congress official Twitter handle.
Social media is poised to become a key element in the upcoming general elections, both as a medium to launch political attacks and to garner mass support. Priyanka Gandhi's entry to Twitter is expected to further boost Congress' presence on this front.
The same day, Priyanka made her first visit to Uttar Pradesh since being made in-charge of the eastern part of the state after her entry into active politics last month.
Priyanka roars into UP with mega roadshow:
Making her political debut as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi on Monday roared into Uttar Pradesh with thousands cheering as her cavalcade slowly made its way through the city during a roadshow, being seen as launch of the party's campaign in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and incharge of the western region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the beaming 47-year-old sported a kurta and a stole, and waved at the teeming party workers jostling for a glimpse.
"Come, let's build a new future, new politics with me. Thank you," she said in her message to the people ahead of the visit to the state.
When the three leaders embarked on a roughly 25-km-long roadshow, from the airport to the party headquarters, to woo voters in the Lok Sabha polls, rose petals and marigold garlands were showered at their cavalcade.
As her 'rath' inched through major thoroughfares, enthusiastic people and party members took vantage positions to click a prized photo.
Enthusiastic Congress workers took to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the two new AICC incharges, with party tricolours and hoardings all over giving the city a festive look.
Since early morning, Congress workers were seen busy giving final touches to the arrangements for the roadshow, distributing food packets, tea and water to passersby. Patriotic songs were played on loudspeakers perking up the mood.
Some posters showed Priyanka in 'Durga Mata' avatar riding on a lion.
"Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyankaji is Maa Durga's incarnation) said one poster, while some others highlighted her resemblance to Indira Gandhi, her grandmother.
Besides workers of other front organisations of the party, some Congress workers -- said to be members of Priyanka sena, a little known outfit -- were seen wearing pink T-shirts with her photograph.
"With the Priyanka Sena at the Nehru Bhawan, Lucknow it is almost celebration here," tweeted Sushmita Dev, president of all India Mahila Congress.
An enthusiastic party general secretary Shailendra Tewari has customised his car to welcome Priyanka with the banner reading, "Aa gai priyanka...baj gaya danka... brashtachar ki ab lagegi Lanka..."
A day before her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi said that together with the people of the state she hopes to start a "new kind of politics" in which everyone will be a stakeholder.