New Delhi: Focusing on gender equality in view of the spiralling crimes against women in the state, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra released the list of 125 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. With a 40 per cent youth and 40 per cent women quota in the upcoming elections of the state, the congress aims to rejig politics in the UP.

In a virtual address today, the Congress leader announced the list where the party fielded in mother of the Unnao rape victim, Asha Singh. “Our list sends a new message that if you have been a victim of harassment and torture, the Congress will support you,” said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who had earlier released a women-centric “Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon (I’m a girl and can fight)” campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

Ms Gandhi further highlighted an ASHA worker, Poonam Pandey from Shahjahanpur who led agitation for a raise in honorarium.

Earlier today, seventh BJP MLA and backward caste leader Mukesh Verma quit his party. The resignation came in the loop of resignations that began with Swami Prasad Maurya. Mukesh Verma, an MLA from Firozabad submitting his resignation said, “Nobody listens to us.”

Ahead of the UP Polls, nearly seven members of the BJP including two ministers quit the party heading to join opposition parties.