New Delhi, January 26: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the eighth member of the Nehru-Gandhi clan to take the political punge, will make her formal debut on February 4 with a dip in the holy Ganga at the Kumbh Mela. She would be accompanied at the event along with her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Priyanka is scheduled on the same day to takeover as the General Secretary of the party. She has been assigned as the poll in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh -- the region which accounts for nearly 40 seats in the Lok Sabha. Priyanka Gandhi Takes Political Plunge: Is The 'Congress Trump Card' a Force to Reckon With?

According to news agency IANS, both Priyanka and Rahul have decided to take a holy dip on the occasion of  "Mauni Amavasya" and the second "Shahi Snan" February 4. The party expects it to send a symbolic message to the UP electorate ahead of the upcoming general elections.

Congress sources, however, claim that in case the brother-sister duo are not able to schedule their visit on February 4, they will opt for February 10 on the occasion of Basant Panchami and the 3rd ‘Shahi Snan".

The last time a member of Gandhi family took a holy dip at Kumbh Mela dates back to 2001, when the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi dipped in Ganga.

On Priyanka's entry into active politics, the Congress appears jubilant, claiming that it would revive the party in a state where it has lost electoral grounds over the last three decades.

The ruling BJP, however, remained unimpressed, calling it a "coronation ceremony". UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said it would have negligible impact on the poll outcome. "Zero plus zero is zero. It is not the first time Priyanka Gandhi will be a part of politics. In 2014 she actively participated in campaigning and also in 2017. Both times Congress tasted defeat," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 26, 2019 05:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).