Running as the Congress’s chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh’s assembly election wasn’t a matter of ‘preference’ for Sheila Dikshit. The decision was made for her by the high command and president of Congress Sonia Gandhi, and as a “disciplined soldier of party”, Dikshit accepted.

Dikshit’s UP connections are familial: she is the daughter-in-law of prominent Congress leader Uma Shankar Dikshit, which is why she christened herself “UP’s daughter-in-law” at one point in her career. Dikshit was first elected to Lok Sabha from Kannuaj in 1984. She’s better known for her 15-year tenure as the Chief Minister of Delhi, from 1998-2013, during which the capital saw a sharp improvement in infrastructure and security.

As far as UP is concerned, Congress has already started its first round of state-wide campaigning, which will culminate in Lucknow on October 9. “The response has been astounding,” said the 78-year-old Congress leader. “You will be surprised to know that Congress is going to win this election.”