Page 19 - 15FEB2019E

• Bricks and bouquets Priyanka’s daring debut
in politics holds promise, and also challenges

the Congress would nominate Varun
Gandhi as its candidate from Sultanpur
in UP.

Way forward
One critic has opined that Priyanka’s
success or failure is contingent upon the
two obvious parameters: (1) whether,
husband Robert Vadra’s alleged involve- force in UP. The Congress strategy of and to what extent, she is able to dent the
ment in certain suspicious property carving out a niche of its own in UP BJP’s upper caste vote bank;and (2) how
deals. Reacting to the BJP’s criticism of politics after being kept out of SP-BSP she is able to impact the chances of the
dynastic politics by Congress, one critic alliance was seen as an uphill task for SP-BSP alliance. Preliminary answers
has pointed out that BJP will have cred- the state unit of Congress and Priyanka’s to both questions will start becoming
ibility to mount such a criticism only if it plunge into the UP politics seems to discernible as the campaign picks up in
estranges allies like Akali Dal, Shiva Sena, have eased the situation in the wake of the ensuing weeks, and will be percep-
Apna Dal, which are also afflicted with renewed enthusiasm in the rank and tible in the response of voters as well as
dynastic politics. Another expert has file of the party, that has already been in in the reactions of the SP-BSP and BJP.
opined that it does not bode well for the an upbeat mood after the crucial win in According to some experts, the wind that
BJP to make political use of Vadra case three Hindi states. Priyanka has brought to the Congress
in the wake of its failure to unravel the Some experts have argued that being sails has seemingly unnerved the BJP to
truth in these allegations. more articulated, true heir of the brand some extent.
of her grandmother Indira Gandhi and Buoyed by its recent victories in
Probable impact her popularity among youth and women neighbouring Rajasthan, Madhya
Priyanka Gandhi’s plunge into active entail the potential of making Priyanka Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, Congress
politics is perceived by the Congress as a political asset for Congress. She is hopes that Priyanka’s entry into the
party cadre in Uttar Pradesh as a game seen by many as a natural politician and electoral fray will give the party a much-
changer for the party ahead of the Lok an effective communicator. There is no needed boost in Uttar Pradesh. This hope
Sabha elections. She has been tasked doubting her ability to energize party assumes added significance in the wake
to look after eastern UP, which as per workers and voters. Prashant Kishor, of media reports about simmering dif-
Congress’s organizational structure, currently vice-president of Janata Dal- ferences in Congress’s alliance with the
comprises 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, United and former poll strategist for RJD in Bihar and jolts in Andhra Pradesh
including VIP constituencies like Vara- the Congress in 2017, said in a recent TV where the TDP leadership is not giving
nasi, Gorakhpur, Rae Bareli and Amethi interview that Priyanka Gandhi could much to the Congress. At this juncture,
etc. Some experts have opined that have made a major difference in the there arises questions as to what extent
with Priyanka’s appointment, perhaps 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections if she had Priyanka Gandhi can enthuse and up
Congress has signaled that the party is decided to take the plunge into politics the game in other states, apart from UP.
willing and able to make a prompt, confi- over three years ago. Like cricket, politics is also a game where
dent, and no-holds barred charge in UP. At a time when two scions of Nehru- even the last ball can tilt the balance.
According to some experts, Priyanka Gandhi family — Rahul Gandhi and However, for the time being it is the Con-
Gandhi’s uncanny, almost hypnotizing Priyanka Gandhi — are about to give gress that has altered the electoral game.
resemblance to her grandmother late or already giving the BJP a run for their During the past one year of taking over
Indira Gandhi envisages a visual affirma- money, the media reports about Varun as president of Congress, Rahul Gandhi
tion in the masses that she will walk Gandhi, son of late Sanjay Gandhi and an has rejuvenated the party, especially in
the talk. Therefore, Priyanka’s plunge estranged member of the main Nehru- the aftermath of wresting three states
into active politics seems to be strategic Gandhi clan, who had joined the BJP in from the BJP in the Hindi heartland and
move to strengthen Congress in UP 2012 and is currently BJP member of with Priyanka joining active politics, the
and from that state to other parts of the Lok Sabha from Sultanpur, joining the two Gandhis may give sleepless nights
country to provide a consolidated front. Congress is likely to add to the woes of to the BJP top brass and observers also
The BJP, having worn over 73 parlia- the BJP in ensuing polls, if these media do not rule out the possibility of Varun
mentary seats in 2014 and registering a reports come true. He is reported to be Gandhi joining the main Gandhi clan.
landslide victory in 2017 state assembly unhappy with the BJP for being sidelined
elections,continues to be a formidable all these years. Reports also indicate that letters@tehelka.com

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