Congress veteran Sheila Dikshit has been named the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate for next year’s Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. The announcement was made by Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi at the party headquarters in the national capital.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the corruption allegations leveled against Dikshit did not matter since BJP’s Chief Ministers in other states too faced corruption charges.

The Brahmin community, a traditional vote bank of Congress, had shifted allegiance to the BJP in the aftermath of the Mandir-Mandal politics and a section in Congress feels it should make efforts to win back the support of the community.

A large chunk of Brahmin votes had also gone to Mayawati’s BSP in the past when she gave tickets to many candidates belonging to the community.

The community’s support determines the poll outcome in several seats in central and eastern U.P.