The Congress is planning to involve Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the sister of party chief Rahul Gandhi, for preparing the party's strategy and for campaigning in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party is also considering Priyanka as a replacement for contesting the Lok Sabha seat held by her mother Sonia Gandhi.
Congress leaders are of the view that Priyanka, with her 'grandmother's determination' and the 'liveliness' of Sonia, would be able to work alongside Rahul in bringing the party back to power in the Centre.
In past elections, Priyanka had mostly campaigned only in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Rahul and Sonia, respectively.
But the Congress will try to get her to campaign in other constituencies too. Since Sonia is bogged down by illness, the Congress is also considering fielding Priyanka from Rae Bareli for the Lok Sabha polls.
Recently, Priyanka played a crucial role when there were multiple claimants for the chief ministerial posts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh after the Congress victory in assembly polls in those states.
She was able to pacify Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia when they were denied the chief minister's post in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, respectively. Priyanka tapped her childhood friendship with Pilot and Scindia to iron out issues.
It is expected that the presence of Priyanka will make a sea of difference during talks with alliance partners in the future. The Congress also believes that Priyanka's sharp retorts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help the party during campaigning. Congress leaders pointed to Priyanka's response to Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign—that it was not a '56-inch' chest that was needed to run the country but a big heart and moral strength—as an example.
Priyanka is writing a book detailing her political beliefs, which will be released by March next year. According to sources, the book could be named Against Outrage and will have 300 pages.
-onmanorama
