The congress announced Sheila Dikshit as its chief ministerial candidate for next year’s Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. She will be up against Mayawati of the BSP and  Akhilesh Yadav of the SP. The BJP is still not declared its CM candidate.

Senior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi said that, "Sheila has been selected for her experience and good work."

"It's a huge responsibility and I want to thank Congress high command," Sheila Dikshit said after the announcement.

Priyanka Gandhi is expected to campaign for the party next year. Sheila said " Priyanka Gandhi is a very popular leader and I will be happy if she campaigns extensively in the state," she said.

Nandini