Priyanka Gandhi, the newly appointed Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, is likely to begin her formal political career after taking a holy dip in the River Ganga at the Kumbh Mela on February 4.

Uttar Pradesh East holds a strong strategic significance as it is home to Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency, and Gorakhpur, which is the former parliamentary seat of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and considered to be his stronghold.

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Priyanka, who will take charge as the General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East the same day, will be accompanied by Congress President and brother Rahul Gandhi following which she will also hold a joint press conference with Rahul in the state capital Lucknow, said the sources.

Both Priyanka and Rahul have selected February 4 for the holy dip on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya and the second “Shahi Snan”. But if they don’t get a chance to take a holy dip on February 4, then they will opt for February 10 on the occasion of Basant Panchami and the third “Shahi Snan,” said the informed sources.

In 2001, the then Congress President and Rahul and Priyanka’s mother Sonia Gandhi had attended the Kumbh Mela and taken a holy dip.

This is perhaps the first time that both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will take a dip on the banks of the Sangam.

According to a party official, the Congress party is looking at organising a rally for Priyanka and Rahul is expected to join her.