Congress has started giving signals
that it can sacrifice “Prince – Rahul “ to hold the forte in Delhi. The media buzz says that the party is
planning to make Princess Priyanka as
its face to take on Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's PM candidate Narendra
Modi and other regional parties.
 |
| Courtesy : The Hindu |
A section in the party doubts
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's ability to lead the party in a high
decibel campaign, but fear to say in open. This group has been worried about
the lack of courage Rahul Gandhi has to lead from the front and
fluctuations in his behaviour. Because of this party workers have lost
hopes for the coming election. A group of congress party leaders like Kapil
Sibbal and Rashid Alvi, who were first to appreciate the move, feel that Priyanka's entry will do the same
effect to Congress as has NaMo factor did to BJP.
The speculations began after Priyanka,
along with her brother and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi held a closed
door meeting with party workers in Amethi, in September. She in past has been
campaigning in Amethi and Raebareli for her brother and mother respectively.
She had successfully campaigned for
the Congress in Bellary in 1999 when was just 26 years of age. Her grace and
looks like Indira Gandhi had lots of asset value to the Congress then. Same may
not hold true today. Now, she carries load of “Vadra” surname. A name that
raises many eyebrows due to defame land deals. This can become a liability on
the congress.
But
Sonia has hinted to retire in 2016 from active politics. Dynastic seat
of Raebarelly can not be given outside the family. Hence choice is little, her
entry into national politics is certain. Question can be , now or after two
years?
The approach can be as some media
reports say, she can be tried in Madhya Pradesh. Can address a rally there. If response is
favourable it can be stretched to other states going for poll this year.
Otherwise Priyanka will continue to focus on Uttar Pradesh for the general
elections due next year.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s emotion laden
campaign with her children during the last UP Assembly elections did not gain any
advantage to the party. The law of diminishing returns applies to emotions. She will have to do a lots of
home work to get content in appeal where Rahul goofs up. She may attract crowds
in some parts of the country. It is an advantage if crowd there should return
home with a ray of hope and not with echo
of the stale rotten slogans.
Congress party this time is on a weaker
wicket. All around image of corruption, mismanagement, inflation and poor
economic scenario. It will not be easy for her to overturn Anti-incumbency and
image of ineffective leadership.
But all these negative factors are
for Rahul Gandhi too. Only advantage Priyanka might have is that voters are not disillusioned with her so far. But she
lacks the credentials what Narendra Modi has.
The party will not take risk of announcing her as a prime ministerial
candidate. She will remain sister of a possible prime ministerial candidate.
Unlike Rahul Gandhi, she is not even an MP.
She has no experience of running anything. Modi is elected chief
minister of a state for past 12 years.
Promoting Priyanka will be a straight
downgrading of Rahul. Rahul Gandhi may be looking dwarf in front of NaMo, but
nobody can deny about his hard work. His failure can not be attributed to him
alone. It was mainly because of
unfocussed leadership of the party and lack of maturity in people around
him.
Many say that he fails to inspire
people because he lacks confidence. His
younger sister has political charisma which he lacks. Priyanka has additional
appeal of being a woman- a factor that motivates many in election. But this yet
to tested. If gone wrong may boomerang also.
Other Posts :
No comments:
Post a Comment