While the Congress’ fortunes seemed diminishing in Uttar Pradesh, the party managed to give itself a much needed booster. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was always an ace up their sleeve, which they have managed to reveal at an opportune moment.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had put the Congress in a tight spot in UP. Priyanka’s accession as Congress party general secretary, and in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh has revived hope for the party in the entire state and the rest of the country as well.
Even though it is not yet clear if Rahul Gandhi’s younger sibling will contest the polls herself, euphoria surrounding her is enough to have a very strong impact on people’s voting choice.
Eastern UP accounts for 40 Lok Sabha seats. Besides that, the region has elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath to the Lok Sabha. This would mean the Congress is taking the fight right into the BJP’s crumbling citadel in the state (due to its defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls).
Rae Bareli and Amethi will remain with the Congress, the real prestige issue will be whether Priyanka can wrest back Phulpur which sent her great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru and her grand-aunt Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit to the lower house of Parliament.
Besides, this also puts the onus on Priyanka to prove her mettle. Unfortunately, this is not a hit and miss opportunity but a do or vanish moment. A lot is expected from the fifth generation of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty “ wining the upcoming general election will give it legitimacy otherwise, daggers will come out in the open against them from within the Congress.
Priyanka was always seen as a mirror image of her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A slogan had recently become popular among Congress party workers, “Priyanka lao, Congress bachao” (bring Priyanka and save the Congress). She has to fulfill that expectation from her party workers.
There is no doubt that Priyanka’s entry will fill the Congress cadre with a new wave of enthusiasm. But it is also important to utilise this opportunity and have Priyanka go across the nation and take on the Modi-Shah combine by standing shoulder to shoulder with her brother against them.
The party needs to make sure that, in a crucial state like UP, votes do not split between Congress and SP-BSP alliance and end up helping the BJP instead. That is a real challenge Priyanka will have to deal with in UP.
Congress need not worry about Robert Vadra’s notorious land deals as the issue has been dragged for too long but accusations of dynastic politics are a real threat. It is also important to make sure that Rahul’s authority is not undermined and steps will have to be taken to ensure that no rifts arise in future. There cannot be two power centers in the party.
With Priyanka’s entry, Modi has a credible challenger. The Congress is buoyed by its win in three crucial Hindi heartland states while the BJP is still reeling from the defeat. If 2014 Lok Sabha election was tilting towards Modi, 2019 is a completely different scenario. The BJP has a fight on its hand.
