Sheila Dikshit as Uttar Pradesh (UP) Congress Chie Minister (CM) Candidate

Congress named Sheila Dikshit as party Chief Minister Candidate for upcoming Uttar Pradesh state elections. Prashant Kishor who was key strategic behind Narendra Modi thumping victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections is now steering congress party campaign strategy. He advised to put up a leader from Brahmin community as CM candidate to bank on caste politics.

Congress party is expecting to win back the votes of Brahman community which is once loyal to the grand old party. Sheila Dikshit who hails from Brahmin community is a long served CM of neighbouring Delhi for 15years. Congress party also named Sanjay Singh, 64, as chief of the congress campaign committee. Sanjay hails from the royal family of Amethi, which is represented by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier reports riffled that Priyanka Gandhi would be named as chief of congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh. Few days back, she met UP Congress president Gulam Nabi Azad to discuss in this regard. But the plan is dropped because of the reason that it may further downplays Rahul Gandhi image.

From decades, Uttar Pradesh is known for caste politics. In 2012 General election, Akhilesh Yadav succeeded winning major seats because of caste and religion equations. In UP Dalit votes will be shared by several political parties. BSP president Mayawati is banking purely on Dalit votes. Now its turn for congress to bank on caste.