Priyanka Gandhi finally joins Congress campaign for UP polls

Ending speculation on whether she will campaign in Uttar Pradesh or not especially after being termed as a key figure in the pre-poll SP-Congress alliance, Congress on Friday confirmed that Priyanka Gandhi will campaign in her Rae Bareli constituency (TOI photo)

Also Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to campaign for party candidates on seats falling under Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency. Sonia and Priyanka's schedule has not yet been finalised. Amethi and Rae Bareli go to polls in the 4th and 5th phase of polling in the state on February 23 and 27 (TOI photo)

Priyanka's growing footprint in Congress affairs became a subject of public discussion around July last year when the party began drawing the roadmap for Uttar Pradesh elections (TOI photo)

Till now, Priyanka was often spoken of in party circles as managing the back-end operations of brother Rahul's political office and overseeing affairs in the home boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli (TOI photo)

The successful conclusion of the alliance with SP saw Congress heralding the "political launch" of Priyanka Gandhi, openly crediting her with clinching the coalition. Priyanka, along with Rahul, were in touch with UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (TOI photo)

Priyanka has been taking a significant interest in UP matters, often sitting in on party discussions and sometimes meeting leaders at her residence (TOI photo)

Clearing the air on the future role of Priyanka Gandhi, Congress had said that she has, for the "time being", restricted her political role to Rae Bareli and Amethi of her "own volition" (TOI photo)

Priyanka Gandhi's name figures among the 40 star campaigners her party has finalised for Uttar Pradesh (TOI photo)