POLITICAL MAKEOVER The Congress has pulled out the entire family firepower of the Gandhis ahead of the 2014 elections. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday afternoon attended a meeting of senior Congress leaders at her brother Rahul's house at Tughlak Lane in New Delhi, though he was not present. The leaders at the meeting are all part of the main election campaign committee headed by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Immediately after the meeting, the party insiders confirmed that Priyanka will not be standing for elections in the 2014, but she will take care of the family bastions of Amethi and Rae Bareli, from where her brother and mother are Members of Parliament.
Despite repeated denials, sources have said her voice will be heard in organisation much more powerfully and she will be the force behind RG's campaign.
Priyanka reached only after half the meeting was over, but it established her role in the political strategy of the party. She inquired about the election schedule and programmes of both Rahul and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Officially, the Congress refused to comment but party spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi said, "Priyanka is a member of an important political family. She has been meeting workers of the party. She herself is an active member of the Congress and our meeting with her shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone."
The meeting was attended by political secretary to the Congress president Ahmad Patel, media incharge Ajay Maken, general secretary in- charge of organisation, Janardan Dwivedi, Uttar Pradesh incharge Madhusudan Mistry and rural development minister and close Rahul aide Jairam Ramesh.
Insiders also confirmed that Priyanka asked about the preparations for the All India Congress Committee 17th January session in Delhi. It is expected that Rahul will be formally anointed as the Congress's prime ministerial candidate on or before that date, especially since PM Manmohan Singh made it clear that he will not be going for a third term.
Sources told Mail Today that Priyanka is neither keen to contest Lok Sabha elections nor campaign beyond Rae Bareli and Amethi as the contest has become very tough in the Gandhis' pocket boroughs. In last assembly elections Congress almost got washed out in both the constituencies.
Priyanka took charge of her mother's constituency after that and has since been regularly holding meetings in Delhi and Rae Bareli with various stake holders and political workers. Sources also indicated that she also oversee campaign in Amethi which earlier was being monitored by a different set of appointees.
Priyanka had always assisted her brother and been by his side on crucial occasions without stealing limelight from him. Even during his important speeches, Priyanka has often come to Parliament to listen to Rahul Gandhi. Even during Jaipur Chintan Shivir last year she made a discreet entry to the venue and remained at the adjoining ante chamber throughout Rahul's speech after he declared the vice president of the party.
She was seen actively campaigning with both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2011. She was also by Rahul's side, though in the background, when Rahul addressed the media to accept his party's rout in that election.
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