Priyanka's meet with Cong seniors sparks 'role' buzz

Likely to play a more active role in the party's affairs ahead of general elections

Priyanka Gandhi is likely to play a bigger role in the Congress party’s affairs ahead of the general elections. On Tuesday, Priyanka convened an hour-long meet with party strategists, including Jairam Ramesh and Janardan Dwivedi.

Though the meet triggered speculation about her role, the party went to great lengths to downplay the import of the meeting, which took place at her brother and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s residence.

Priyanka holds no post and has confined her role to Amethi and Rae Bareli (both in Uttar Pradesh) represented by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, respectively.

Priyanka has been regularly visiting the two constituencies in the electorally-crucial Uttar Pradesh.

Poor Assembly poll results in the two had also prompted the move, said sources. There are rumours Priyanka could contest the Parliament elections from Rae Bareli but this seems unlikely  at present.

“In the event Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s health conditions do not permit her, Priyanka could step into her (mother’s) shoes (by contesting) from the constituency, a family bastion,” said a senior.

Dwivedi said, “Priyanka is a member of an important political family. May be she is not seen as participating in active politics but she has been an active member of Congress for long. She has been looking after Amethi and Rae Bareli for some time. Priyanka holds her own opinion on political issues and she has been discussing with party workers time to time.”

Dwivedi wondered why it should be “surprising” she had met seniors on these issues now. The party said she had met the leaders to discuss the “tour programmes of the Congress president and vice-president.” Others in the meet were Sonia’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, Uttar Pradesh party in-charge Madhusudan Mistry, Mohan Gopal of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Ajay Maken.     

The meet comes a week before the All India Congress Committee meet next week, where Rahul is likely to be declared the prime ministerial candidate.