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general elections

Sabha seats in 2014 and 7 of the 403 addresses public meetings where the
assembly seats in 2017 polls, was a walko- gathering is small. “She is not looking at
ver in UP. a big show. She goes by people’s affection
In 2014 elections, the Congress had and trust. For instance, one or two meet-
won only Amethi and Rae Bareli, repre- ings had lesser crowds than expected in
sented by Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chair- Fatehpur constituency but she went on,”
person Sonia Gandhi, respectively, while said the leader.
the BJP had won 71 seats. Sources said Priyanka who is seen charming the
Priyanka wants to change perception voters during roadhshows and greeting
about the party as she unfolds her vision them with folded hands, never loses an
for an alternative politics which goes opportunity to take a selfie for the young-
beyond the caste ridden equations in sters. Moreover, she personally receives
the state. feedback from variety of sources and
The nervousness among BSP chief patiently listens to people who approach
Mayawati and SP boss Akhilesh Yadav her.
has showed in their recent comments The critics however still question if
that the Congress’ renewed aggression the buzz around Congress will get votes
knows the field well and has been choos- had made the UP contest three-cornered for the party. “We were lacking mainly on
ing the issues to slam the BJP carefully. which may end up helping the BJP. having a direct communication with the
Be it reminding the present genera- Besides the Lok Sabha polls, she has voters and could not present the Con-
tion about the former prime ministers set her eyes on the next assembly polls gress as an alternative. People see her as
Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi while in UP in 2022. In her numerous interac- coherent. We hope the fence sitters will
attacking the BJP for not respecting all tions with party workers in the hinter- be attracted towards the Congress,” said
martyrs alike to poking fun at PM Modi’s land areas Priyanka has been chiding a senior AICC functionary.
2014 promise of converting Varanasi into party workers to work hard for the 2019 “Besides, Priyanka’s entry has reener-
Kyoto city of Japan, she has been speak- national elections but also prepare for gised the party workers and their morale
ing her mind. the 2022 battle. Priyanka’s mission is is up,” he said, adding membership enrol-
She took a jibe at the PM to defuse his clearly aimed at reviving the party in the ment via the application Shakti has gone
focus on Pakistan by saying that Modi state, where the Congress has been out of up manifold after Priyanka’s entry.
visited US, China and Japan and ate biry- power for the past 29 years, and sending Poll observers said the Congress is not
ani in Pakistan but did not have the time the right signals to the political rivals. a cadre-based party and works more like
to visit a poor family in his parliamentary “The deployment of Priyanka is a mass- based system. “It fights on issues...
constituency. Old timers recall how she bringing us the benefits...it will hit the Priyanka’s charisma will get us the votes,”
hit back at Modi when as the BJP prime mahagathbandhan as Muslims want said a leader.
ministerial candidate in 2014 he was at- to support the Congress at the national Party insiders said the Priyanka had
tacking her husband Robert Vadra over level and may support the regional par- always been in favour of the go alone
alleged corruption charges and the Con- ties in assembly polls,” said a Congress line espoused by Rahul but played a key
gress party was not sure how to counter strategist. role in sewing up the alliance with the
him. “Her sharp rebukes silenced Modi.. Commenting on Priyanka the leader SP ahead of the 2017 UP assembly polls
the PM knows that she should not be this leader said that she does not oper- as most MLAS favoured the tie-up. How-
provoked unnecessarily and has advised ate on massive daises like Modi and even ever she is determined to do everything
his party leaders accordingly,” said a possible to reboot the Congress in UP
leader. Priyanka’s deployment which sends the highest (80) members
Displaying awareness of local issues to the Lok Sabha. And certainly if there is
she tweeted to express solidarity with the is clearly seen as a post poll situation where the Congress
farmers who lost their crop in the recent Congress response can work together with the mahagath-
untimely rains and hail storm. bandhan allies to keep the BJP out of
Priyanka’s deployment is clearly seen to regional parties power, Priyanka the strategist will have
as the Congress response to the regional who came together a role, said the party insiders.
parties BahujanSamaj Party-Samajwadi For the past many years she has
Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal who came to- to counter the BJP played a back room strategist role and
gether to counter the BJP but chose to has advised her mother and former par-
drop the grand old party from the alli- but chose to drop the ty chief Sonia Gandhi and now Rahul on
ance. Priyanka’s entry has unnerved the grand old party from the poll campaigns and even in selecting
mahagathbandan partners who thought candidates for the party.
the Congress with just 2 of the 80 Lok the alliance letters@tehelka.com

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