For many in the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is a lucky charm. She did over 60 rallies ahead of the recent state elections and the party thinks her strike rate has been much better than other seniors like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge among others. So it comes as no surprise that the party wants her to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Jairam Ramesh told News18, “She is not just our star campaigner. She is a superstar and we would want her to contest in the Lok Sabha polls. That’s the most natural thing to do, but it’s her decision.”
It took a while for Priyanka to adjust to her “mainstream political launch”. For years before she was made general secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh along with Jyotiraditya Scindia (then in the Congress) in 2019, Priyanka would campaign for her brother and mother in Amethi and Raebareli. She spent a lot of time managing her mother Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency. But each time she would be asked when she would take the formal plunge, Priyanka dismissed it by saying she had to look after her two children. However, those who know the workings of the Congress reveal that she would be part of all key meetings of the party. Particularly when it came to her mother and brother’s campaigns and political strategy, Priyanka would be the go-to person. She usually had the last word.
Another reason why Priyanka wanted to stay away was that she wanted her brother Rahul Gandhi to be the centre, focus, and face. There is no denying that Priyanka has more charisma and connect with the crowds and that she could be a challenger, say some party insiders. Priyanka and the family never wanted this.
But in 2019, with Rahul Gandhi almost directly pitted against Narendra Modi, the space in the states was clear for Priyanka. She took charge of a state like UP, knowing that the party had little chance there. But like Indira Gandhi, Priyanka wanted her party to know that she was not scared of taking on a challenge. A poor performance and failure of the “Ladki hun, lad sakti hun” campaign didn’t seem to daunt her. She was used extensively in state polls and campaigns. It was her idea to woo women and offer money directly into their accounts. It clicked in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Where it did not, the blame fell on the respective state leadership.
So when the new list of Congress office-bearers came recently and Priyanka was not put in charge of any state, many wondered what the reason could be. Avinash Pande has replaced her as UP incharge. Priyanka had resigned along with others when the old Congress Working Committee (CWC) gave way to the new. But not taking charge of a state means Priyanka wants to focus on the Lok Sabha polls, both as a strategist and most likely as a candidate. She has been included in the party’s manifesto committee for 2024. The party feels that she can give valuable input that will help revive the Congress.
Sources say Priyanka felt that taking charge of a state would limit her activities. And being a star campaigner could benefit her as a leader. This, of course, leaves the door open for her to contest. The party will leave it to her to choose a safe seat, say sources. But Priyanka being billed as “Indira reincarnated” could work for her in the south and not so much in the north. However, both Gandhi siblings contesting from southern constituencies (Rahul is the MP from Kerala’s Wayanad seat) would only reinforce the BJP argument that the Congress is a “south party”. Himachal is another possibility, say sources. With her no longer being in charge of UP, Priyanka is under no pressure to contest from the state.
Many in the Congress hope that an aggressive Priyanka will take on Modi directly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, something Rahul Gandhi did but without success.
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