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politics

Rahul Gandhi ready
to be PM, says
Jyotiraditya Scindia

impulse. But with Priyanka now at the helm of the charges against him were really that grave and
affairs, much awaited organisational restructuring substantial?
could soon be there after she assumes her charge in What BJP had further begun to use as another
first week of February. Political observers are keenly arsenal against her is their contention that she had
watching how Priyanka is going to utilise construc- failed to prove herself even in Amethi and Raebareli,
tively heavyweight leaders of the UP Congress like the parliamentary constituencies of her brother and
Pramod Tiwari, who had never lost a single elec- mother. They are busy citing the defeat of the Con-
tion, remains terribly under-utilised so far. Likewise, gress party in eight of the ten assembly segments of
the younger leaders like Jitin Prasad, R.P.N Singh, Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies at
Pradeep Mathur, CLP leader Ajay Kumar Lallu, Ajay the 2017 state elections.
Rai, Aradhana Misra, Aditi Singh and a few others What they seem to overlook is that there is a subtle
could also come in handy in the campaign. Some difference between Priyanka then and now. Then it
other veteran Congress leaders, who were lost in was a family member coming on a short trip to win
oblivion, could also be tapped for their potential to the voter .Today when she assumes a full-time role
rekindle the party in their respective areas. in the party, she would be taken more seriously. In
Ever since Priyanka’s name has come to the fore- any case, the more that the BJP questions Priyan-
front, BJP leaders have been questioning her cre- ka’s leadership, the more she would gain in stature
dentials as any “game-changer”. Already, they have as well as in popularity. At the end of the day, BJP’s
begun to train their guns against her husband and anti-Priyanka tirade alone would herald her rise
his alleged involvement in several shady deals. Here in politics.
again, obvious counterpoint to be raised would
be – why BJP had not been able to pin him down if letters@tehelka.com

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