"For two decades, Sheila ji is not active in UP politics as she is busy in Delhi. Dikshit ji played safe and chose Delhi PCC presidentship and the rest is history," said an informed senior leader who was privy to the script behind Dikshit's 1998 elevation. Her last UP outing was in 1996 when she lost as a nominee of the breakaway Congress (Tiwari) party. "For UP Congress, our first preference is Priyanka (Gandhi Vadra) ji to lead the party campaign," said another senior party leader. The Dikshit family, even during Uma Shankar Dikshit ji's time, did not have the same sway on Brahmin voters as Kamalapathi Tripathi ji had.

Source: Economic Times June 19, 2016 22:27 UTC