TRENDING STORY Rahul Gandhi may appear to be the man in total command of the Congress, playing the role of the whip master and agent of change as well as the party’s chief campaigner for the upcoming polls, but when it comes to strategy, his sister Priyanka's role is as crucial.
She is not confined to planning out campaign schedules for Sonia and Rahul in Rae Bareli and Amethi – this is what senior Congressmen would have everyone believe. Instead, she is the powerful backroom manager involved in many important decisions of the party.
As the campaign reaches its peak, Priyanka is playing a more involved role in the strategic affairs of the Congress party, say Congress sources on condition of anonymity. She has stepped in as Rahul remains busy traveling across the country to canvas for party candidates.
Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi spend a good time together these days, often starting their mornings together. The discussion usually revolves around the party’s strategy for the elections. After brainstorming, the most trusted and experienced lieutenant Ahmed Patel joins them.
It’s only after his arrival that the family finally decides their course of action. The second half of the day is spent with other senior leaders as each one gets on with their specific allotted work. While Priyanka may keep saying that her role is limited to the family bastions of Amethi and Rae Bareli, her level of involvement is in fact much more.
Many eyebrows were raised when Dr. Sanjay Sinh was selected for a Rajya Sabha nomination from Assam. After all, he is the sitting Congress MP from Sultanpur, which also happens to be the neighbouring seat of Amethi. There was a hint of rebellion within the ranks in Assam as well, but the party stuck to its decision.
It is now believed that the decision was worked out by Priyanka herself, the logic being that the Amethi scion would go to the Upper House while his wife Rani Ameeta Sinh would contest from Sultanpur. Though Sinh skipped the question on Priyanka, he did indicate their strategy on Varun who is contesting from Sultanpur on a BJP ticket.
“Varun is banking on his family name. He says he wants to fulfill the dreams of Indira and Sanjay. People are wondering why they need to do that through the BJP route when Congress is still around ?” He asked. Congress knew that Varun would contest from Sultanpur, and they needed all the support they could muster to take him head on. Dr. Sinh not only had a soft corner for Varun as he and his father were best friends, but also felt sidelined within the party.
In stepped Priyanka, and now Amethi seems easy for Rahul while the battle gets tougher for Varun. “I didn’t go to Pilibhit, he decided to come here.” says Dr. Sinh. “ Varun took the decision to come to my home turf. If he is my bhatija then don’t forget, I’m his chacha too.” Rahul Gandhi’s decision to give an interview to a Hindi newspaper and an English news channel was also the part of a larger plan to put the Congress Vice President back into the limelight.
The BJP and especially Narendra Modi’s advertisement blitzkrieg had moved the Gandhi scion too much out of the mind space in the market. Sister Priyanka was present during the TV interview and one could even see Rahul keep looking more towards one side during that time. Because that’s where Priyanka was seated, quietly watching her brother take on tough questions one after the other.
Priyanka seems pretty clear about who the prime target is for the Congress party. The needle always points westward to Gujarat and the threat posed to UPA government by Narendra Modi and his new found following. The Vikas Khoj Yatra organized by the Indian Youth Congress in January this year was also the result of the brother and sister brainstorming together.
The idea was to generate public opinion against the hype created by the Modi government and puncture the state’s development plank. Though the yatra didn’t generate as much media attention as Arvind Kejriwal’s trip did in March this year, the message did go across to the youth cadre. “We would be confused about our strategy at times earlier. With Priyanka Ji interacting with us, it’s a different feeling.
Now we don’t feel lost, she likes to listen and we feel comfortable sharing our opinion with her.” says a Youth Congress leader on the condition of anonymity. This message has not been lost on the party cadre. Ever since the party’s debacle in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2012, there was a question mark on whether Rahul was able to deliver when it matters.
There were talks of him taking over as Prime Minister from Manmohan Singh, but Rahul stayed away from getting into the game of musical chairs. That also kept the party rank and file wondering whether he was actually interested in leading the party. Rahul’s image as that of a reluctant politician remained, and it was high time that impression changed for the better. “It’s not true, Rahul Ji has always been proactive in politics.
He spends the whole day meeting party workers and listening to the problems of the common man.” counters Akhilesh Pratap Singh, National Spokesperson of the Congress. “Though there is no doubt that Priyanka Ji’s popularity will add to Rahul Ji’s charm across the country.” he added.
Though some in the party believe that Rahul is surrounded by his own coterie, and that has led to many seniors feeling left out of the decision making process. For a party that thrives on loyalty, this could prove to be a major hurdle. But with Priyanka’s entry as a backroom manager for the party, this grouse could be a thing of the past.
As the party heads into their toughest elections in recent times, the arrival of the prodigal daughter is just the balm that could have a soothing effect on the Grand Old Party.
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