New Delhi: Controversial Congress leader Imran Masood, who had in 2014 threatened to ‘chop Narendra Modi into pieces’, has been appointed one of four vice presidents of the party’s state unit. The remaining three VPs are -- Rajesh Mishra (Brahmin), Raja Ram Pal (OBC), Bhagwati Prasad (SC).
When Ghulam Nabi Azad, in charge of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, was asked about Masood’s elevation, he said, “Why don't you ask the BJP of their ministers who are hate-mongers?”
The BJP was very quick to respond to this latest appointment with party spokesperson Sambit Patra stating that ‘this reflects the grand old party’s mindset’.
“So Congress rewards the "Boti-Boti" man of Uttar Pradesh Imran Masood with the post of UPPC Vice President! Reflects the mind set of Congress,” he tweeted.
Masood, who had lost the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 against BJP’s Raghav Lakhanpal, was jailed for his hate speech in March 2014 against the then BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Sources said that the party will soon announce its campaign committee team, adding that announcement regarding Priyanka Gandhi’s role will be done in October.
Earlier this evening, the Congress appointed actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar as the party chief in election-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Congress is in political wilderness in UP for the past more than 26 years which saw emergence of 'Mandal' and 'Mandir' issues and the rise of BSP.
The Congress is making all efforts to re-establish its political stronghold in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming assembly polls. It had managed to win just two seats of Gandhi family bastion of Amethi and Rae Bareilly in the Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, there is a speculation that the party may project former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit as the chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh.
