Lucknow, February 11: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the newly-appointed Congress general secretary for East Uttar Pradesh, on Monday made her political debut by holding a mega roadshow in Lucknow. Priyanka Gandhi, accompanied by her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, party's general secretary and in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh Jyotiraditya Scindia and other Congress leaders, received a rousing welcome from people as she rode in an open truck through lanes of the city.

Priyanka Gandhi was welcomed by enthusiastic gathering on the streets who showered flowers on her, Rahul and the Congress convoy. Priyanka, who was wearing a light coloured kurta and churidar with a white dupatta around her neck, continuously waved at the cheering crowd; shaking hands at times with people who flocked the streets in huge numbers. Aa Gayi Badlaav Ki Aandhi, Rahul Sung Priyanka Gandhi (The storm is coming, Rahul along with Priyanka Gandhi), was a favourite slogan among the supporters. Narendra Modi Has No Credibility Left, Says Rahul Gandhi at the Venue of 12-Hour-Long Fast by Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu.

Security personnel had a tough time holding back enthusiastic crowds who had been waiting for a glimpse of the brother-sister duo. At one point at Burlington crossing, Priyanka, Rahul, Scindia and the other leaders had to lower their heads and eventually dismount from the truck to escape dangerously low hanging electric wires. They shifted to a car before returning to the truck. Before concluding the mega event, Rahul addressed a gathering where he hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government.

"Congress started in Uttar Pradesh and can't remain weak here. I've given the job of strengthening the party here to Priyanka Ji and Jyotiraditya Ji. Lok Sabha polls are approaching and I told them that we should perform better in it and a Congress government should be formed in the state as well after assembly polls," the Congress president said. Earlier today, Priyanka’s husband, Robert Vadra, also wished his wife over her “new journey”.

"My best wishes to you P (Priyanka), on your new journey of working in Uttar Pradesh and serving the people of India. You have been my best friend, a perfect wife and the best mother to our children. There is a very vindictive and vicious political atmosphere… But I know, it’s her duty to serve the people and now we hand her to the people of India. Please keep her safe," Vadra wrote on Facebook.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 11, 2019 07:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).