The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday claimed a ‘rift' in the Congress party as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the General Secretary of the party, who missed the ‘Pratigya Yatra' led by her brother Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

However, Priyanka Vadra, citing health concerns, conveyed her inability to join her brother in the ongoing party yatra in Uttar Pradesh. She explained that her hospitalization was a result of an illness, and she expressed her intention to join the yatra as soon as her health permits.

Rahul Gandhi's five-day campaign across Uttar Pradesh, which began on 14 February, aimed to boost Congress's presence and morale ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. But when Priyanka, a member of he family and a prominent member of the party renowned for her political appeal, was unable to attend, rumors started to circulate.

 “I was very excited to get the BJNY in UP today, but sadly, I had to be admitted to the hospital.” In a post on X, she stated, “I will be there as soon as I am better.”

As they travel to Chandauli today, Priyanka continued, “meanwhile wishing all the yatris, my colleagues in UP who have worked hard towards making arrangements for the yatra, and my sweet brother, all success.”

Leaders of the BJP quickly attributed her absence to purported internal conflict within the Congress. Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT cell, indicated a division between the siblings.

“Everyone should take care of their health. Even when Yatra 2.0 started, Priyanka Vadra was missing from there, and today when Rahul's Yatra has reached Uttar Pradesh, even then Priyanka will not be there,” Malviya said in Hindi.

He asserted, “It is now widely known that there is an irreconcilable rift between brother and sister over who owns the party.”