If BJP has Amit Shah, Congress has Ghulam Nabi Azad: Sheila Dikshit

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who has been projected as the Congress' chief ministerial candidate for the Uttar Pradesh elections, on Monday described Ghulam Nabi Azad as the Amit Shah of Congress.

"If BJP has Amit Shah, then Congress has Ghulam Nabi Azad," said Dikshit.

Azad is one of the senior-most leaders of the Congress and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Amit Shah is the BJP President.

Dikshit also said that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should campaign in the state and the party would "benefit from it".

She said Priyanka "is a popular leader and she should come for campaigning. Congress will benefit if Priyanka campaigns for the party in UP".

In an interview to ETV, Dikshit when asked about the main agenda in the Uttar Pradesh elections, said: "The present Akhilesh Yadav government's work has discouraged the public. Due to this, people are not going to give him another chance. For us, only development will be the agenda."

Dikshit also said she would concentrate only on campaigning now and no decision has been taken on contesting the election.

Asked about party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's role and whether he'll be elevated to the post of party President, Dikshit said: "He should be given more time. Party High Command will take a decision on whether Rahul Gandhi will be made the party President or not."

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dikshit said: "Modi's popularity has decreased in last two years and he has failed in fulfilling the election promises."

"It doesn't befit a Prime Minister to make comments like Congress-free India. Such statements don't come in favour of a Prime Minister," she added.