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Priyanka’s arrival re-invigorates

Congress on the national scene

The exact electoral impact of Priyanka’s entry ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls is difficult to
be measured. However, her entry has not only upset the BJP, but also sent shock waves among
the non-BJP and non-Congress parties, writes gopal misra

t is natural for the ruling Bhartiya her family blended with her polite, predict it may trigger off an avalanche
Janata Party (BJP) and the non- but regal poise, Priyanka, is feared giving huge number of seats to the par-
Congress oppositions outfits to by all the non-Congress political ty, which used to dominate the politics
pause, rethink and revise their outfits across the country as a great of the state.
I poll calculations following the vote catcher. The electoral impact of this in the
surprise entry of Priyanka Gandhi in The INC’s master-move with a sur- forthcoming polls is yet to be calculat-
active politics, just a few months be- prise element could not have been ed, but her entry has not only upset the
fore the Lok Sabha elections. In spite of better timed. She arrives on the politi- BJP, it has sent shocking waves among
being the daughter of India’s first cal scene immediately after the clear the non-BJP and the non-Congress
family, the legendary Nehru-Indira victory of the party in the three states, political parties. The BJP concern is
Gandhi and followed by Rajiv Gan- Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Ra- natural, because it has failed to win its
dhi, she has taken up a non-descript jasthan. Many believe that since Rahul two strongholds of Chattisgarh and
position of general secretary in the has already proved his leadership in the Madhya Pradesh, where the INC lacked
UP state unit of the Indian National recently held polls, Priyanka should not strong political organization. In the
Congress (INC). join the active politics. case of Rajashtan, BJP apologists as-
For her admirers, she resembles The INC could have reconciled in sert that the electorates change the
Indira Gandhi, who had led India dur- the much trumpeted alliance between government in every five years.
ing the tumultuous Bangladesh crisis Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) However, in private conversation
in 1971. Her father Rajiv is admired for and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samajwadi they concede the waning of the Modi
injecting information technology and Party (BSP) with a third position, but it charisma. There is also disenchant-
upgrading the country’s communica- had to distance itself amidst the reports ment among the volunteers of
tion systems amidst criticism both from that it may be given only three-four Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS).
the right wing, BJP, and the left parties. seats in the 80-strong Lok Sabha seats The party debacle is also attributed
Both Indira Gandhi and Rajiv were in Uttar Pradesh. With Priyanka lead- to the neutral role of the senior party
martyred. The ultimate sacrifices of ing the campaign for the INC, many leaders comprising L.K. Advani and

Tehelka / 28 february 2019 34 www.Tehelka.com