Priyanka's entry to Congress should worry BSP-SP, not us: BJP leaders

Congress supporters Prayagraj PTI Congress supporters celebrate outside the Anand Bhavan in Prayagraj after hearing news of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's induction | PTI

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s seemingly sudden appointment as general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, a few months ahead of the general elections, has surprised many and buoyed up the Congress rank and file.

Some say her striking resemblance to former prime minister Indira Gandhi could bring back into the fold traditionalist Congress supporters who want the 'restoration' of the older days of the party's popularity to take on the mighty Narendra Modi-led BJP. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Priyanka’s induction is not a cause for concern for the BJP.

Naqvi said to THE WEEK, “It [Priyanka's induction] should worry the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, who are now in an alliance, not us. Our position in Uttar Pradesh is intact. Even the Congress leaders know the kind of progress the country is making under Narendra Modi and the popularity he enjoys, not just in Uttar Pradesh, but all over the country.”

He said a proclamation like this is only to seek attention. “One thing is clear with this development: The leaders of the Congress are confused. They don’t know which top leader of theirs is more capable,” said Naqvi.

Priyanka’s formal induction into the Congress will see her in a direct contest with Modi, who represents Varanasi in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who represents Gorakhpur, which is located in the same region. Modi was quick to comment on the induction of Priyanka. Addressing BJP workers in Maharashtra’s Baramati, Modi said, “For some people, family is the party. For the BJP, party is family.”

“The BJP doesn’t care much about Priyanka’s formal entry into the Congress,” Krishna Raj, Union Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh, told THE WEEK. “The popularity of Modi in Uttar Pradesh is for all to see. I am camping in the state now, and I can see the admiration and love that people have for our beloved prime minister. Let her [Priyanka] be given any post, or not be given any post; it will not make any difference to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh,” said Raj.

Former Union defence minister and senior Congress leader A.K. Antony said to THE WEEK that Priyanka’s elevation will give a big boost to the Congress ahead of the elections. “She will be able to galvanise the party cadre all over the country. This decision to bring her officially to the party will help us a lot,” said Antony.

After her marriage to businessman Robert Vadra in 1998, Priyanka, 47, limited her political activities to the family strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. All these years, Priyanka was apparently sceptical of taking the limelight away from her brother, Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The decision to elevate Priyanka was met with jubilation by Congress workers across Uttar Pradesh. In Raebareli, they burst crackers to celebrate the decision.

Surya Pratap Shahi, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister, said Priyanka’s elevation will have no bearing on the state unit of the BJP. “The BJP will perform well in the general elections. In UP, we will get as many seats as we can. In such a scenario, it is the SP and the BSP that has to worry, as their percentage of votes will come down,” Shahi said to THE WEEK.

However, Vishambhar Prasad Nishad, Rajya Sabha MP of the Samajwadi Party, said Shahi was wrong. “It is a strategy on their part when they say our votes will come down after Priyanka’s elevation. The BJP was already suffering in UP. With Priyanka’s elevation, there will be further reduction in the BJP’s vote share,” Nishad said to THE WEEK.

Congress leaders say that Priyanka is more hardworking and eloquent than Rahul. She speaks Hindi better than Rahul. “Priyanka is known to work tirelessly and is a go-getter. She sets herself and the party workers regular targets and makes sure they deliver,” said a Congress leader.

After the BJP’s Sanjay Singh defeated Congress’s Satish Sharma in Amethi in 1998, it was Priyanka’s resoluteness and goal setting that led to Sonia Gandhi defeating the BJP candidate by a margin of more than 3 lakh votes in the general elections of 1999.

Sushmita Dev, Congress MP and president of All India Mahila Congress, said Rahul has a long-term plan for Uttar Pradesh and Priyanka’s elevation was part of that plan. “Personally, I am very happy. Apart from Ambika Soni and I, there were no women general secretaries in the Congress. Now, we have one more,” Dev told THE WEEK. “Our opposition has constantly pitched Rahul against Priyanka. Now, with this decision, Rahul has demolished that narrative.”

The land-grabbing and money laundering cases against Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra is seen as a stumbling block for the Gandhi family in general, and Priyanka in particular. In 2015, the Enforcement Directorate registered a case against Vadra under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The Rajasthan High Court on January 21 asked Vadra and his partners to appear before the ED on February 12.

Dev said this will have no bearing on Priyanka. “Priyanka is a bold and confident woman. Our opposition is hallucinating if they think they can hold back Priyanka with this issue,” she said.