Can Priyanka Gandhi lead Congress like Indira? Is she the rightful heir?

Can Priyanka Gandhi lead Congress like Indira? Is she the rightful heir?

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 07:59 PM IST
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The latest entrant into politics from India’s Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had made her debut in politics February months before the general elections. Congress President Rahul Gandhi pulled a surprise by appointing his younger sister a party general secretary. She will also be party’s face in Uttar Pradesh, the state that sends the highest number of lawmakers to the lower house of parliament and is currently dominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

It’s not just about Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is famous for her striking resemblance to the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Congress has made sure to exploit the gene factor.

Was the entry pre-planned?

In the run-up to the 2014 general elections as well, there were reports that Priyanka was “all set to play a bigger role in the upcoming general elections”. “There has been speculation in recent months on whether Priyanka, who has so far confined her politics to campaign for her mother Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli (her constituency), would take a plunge into politics full-time. Her participating in the meeting today fuelled further speculation,” The Economic Times had reported back in 2014.

Behind the constant buzz around Priyanka’s political entry was the understated belief she was always seen as more of a natural leader than her brother, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who was seen as reserved by some.

The right heir?

In 2004, when the Congress party announced its decision to bring Rahul Gandhi into politics and later made him the Vice-President of the party, the media was baffled by the party’s decision not to go with Priyanka.

A BBC report from 2004 had said that the decision to field Rahul had taken a lot of Congress workers as well as political analysts by surprise. “It is a baffling decision. The general impression was that Priyanka was more articulate, forceful and more charismatic. I am not sure anyone knows what the real story is. Perhaps it is more personal or family related,” Pratap Bhanu Mehta was quoted as saying by the BBC report.

Female Congress president garners more support?

A female Congress president has always been popular and garnered more support whether it be Indira Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi.  Sonia Gandhi, former leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, took over the Congress after Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a Tamil suicide bomber while campaigning for the general election in 1991. Sonia initially resisted calls to enter politics before taking the plunge and lifting Congress’ flagging fortunes under her family’s brand name. The Italian-born 72-year-old, who forged a Congress-led coalition government for two successive terms in 2004 and 2009 to run the world’s largest democracy, has played a slightly reduced public role since being treated abroad for illness in 2011.

As for 47-year-old Priyanka – she is usually referred to by just her first name – she bears a striking resemblance to her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and is known for her gifts as a speaker able to connect with voters.

“It’s like Indira Gandhi has come back,” said Fuzail Ahmed Khan, 45, a Congress supporter told the Reuters. “The state’s farmers want Rahul Gandhi to be Prime Minister, Priyanka to be chief minister.”

The Congress party cadre has long demanded Gandhi’s entry into the electoral fray as they seek a leader to turn the fortunes of the party. Priyanka is no stranger to politics, though. For the longest time, she has been working behind the scenes although her public participation was limited to Rae Bareli and Amethi, represented in parliament by her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother, respectively.

Gandhi has always been rated a more spontaneous politician than her brother—she is known to be articulate in Hindi and for her ability to connect with the masses. This ability, coupled with her striking resemblance to her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is what the Congress may be counting on.

Although Priyanka has very little time to turn around the fortunes of her party in time for the elections, her appointment can go a long way in wooing back the traditional vote banks of the Congress. While campaigning in Amethi before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, she said, “This is Indiraji’s work turf. She was not just my grandmother but she was also the mother to millions of Indians. She was a part of the family that has worked for people and that loves the country.”

But whether Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be a boon for Congress in the Lok Sabha elections only time will tell. But the main question is, will she lead Congress as Sonia and Indira did? Till now, she has shown every aspect of true Nehru-Gandhi courage and determination and also her popularity is rising. Not right now but in the near future, we can see her leading Congress.

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