New Delhi, January 23: Jubilant Congress workers in Lucknow were found celebrating on Wednesday as the party high command fulfilled one of the longstanding demands of the cadres - assignment of a full-time role to the youngest Gandhi scion - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who resembles late former prime minister Indira Gandhi in both looks and charisma.

With posters reading 'Indira is Back', Congress workers in several parts of UP, including Lucknow, Allahabad, Amethi and Rae Bareli, burst crackers and distributed sweets. The celebratory mood resonated among the party's old guard as well, with veteran leader Motilal Vora considering her entry into UP politics as the revival of Congress in the state. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Enters Active Politics: Congress Calls it 'Game-Changer', BJP Sees 'Nepotism' — Who Said What.

Priyanka for years is being touted by analysts as a "trump card" of the Congress -- rationale being the charisma seen in her rallies, with scores of party supporters finding a replica of "iron lady" Indira Gandhi in her.

What further indicates her as a force to reckon with, is the entire BJP top brass lambasting the Congress leadership on inducting Priyanka as a full-time functionary of the party.

Union Ministers JP Nadda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress for promoting "dynasticism" by "coronating" Priyanka.

"In most cases family is the party itself, but for the BJP, party is family," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, apparently taking a veiled jibe at the elevation of Priyanka as the Congress general secretary.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was quick to counter the BJP's aggressive reaction on Priyanka being assigned a key poll-bound role in Uttar Pradesh. "BJP has been rattled with our decision to deploy Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia in UP," he said.

Notably, Priyanka has been appointed as poll in-charge in eastern Uttar Pradesh, whereas, Scindia has been given the charge of overseeing the party's electioneering in the western region of the state.

The east UP charge itself indicates the stature of Priyanka within the Congress. The 47-year-old has taken it upon herself to improve the prospects of the party in Uttar Pradesh -- from where it has been decimated following the Ram Janmabhoomi movement of early 90s'.

Furthermore, she has been appointed as poll in-charge of a region which is considered the yard of BJP's hardline face and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

"She has taken the challenge", Rahul Gandhi said, adding that Priyanka has not been assigned a two-month role, but would be strenuously working towards electing a "Congress CM" in the state in 2022.

Below Are The Videos of Priyanka Gandhi's Prominent Campaign Speeches From The Past:

- Hitting Back at PM Modi For 'UP's Adopted Son' Comment

- Defending Amethi Turf Against Smriti Irani

- Rebutting Modi's Tirade Against Mother Sonia in Rae Bareli

Will Priyanka Gandhi succeed in reclaiming the Congress' lost electoral dominance in Uttar Pradesh? The answer is unlikely to be gauged from the results of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. As indicated by Rahul Gandhi, the party will set goals beyond the two-month period leading to the parliamentary polls.

"I have not sent Priyanka and Jyotiraditya for just two months. I have sent them to take Congress' ideology forward in Uttar Pradesh. Our ideology of standing and fighting for the poor, for the youth, for the farmers... There will be new thinking, new ideology in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 23, 2019 07:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).