Poor showing in U.P. has
increased burden on Ms. Vadra
Priyanka Vadra is set to play a
“broader” backroom role in the Congress ahead of the general election slated
for later this year.
The first indication came on
Tuesday when she participated in a strategy meeting of leaders amid reports
that the Congress is planning organisational changes, which includes bringing
Central Ministers into party slots.
The gathering was held at the
Tughlak Lane residence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, but he was not
present, sources confirmed to The Hindu. The discussions focused on the
campaign schedule of party president Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Gandhi, who will
front the battle for re-election, with political rallies commencing after the
AICC meeting scheduled for January 17 in Delhi.
Ms. Vadra, who has no formal role
in the party hierarchy, joined the meeting in the latter part, the sources
claimed, though she was seen entering Mr. Gandhi’s residence around the time
the other leaders did.
“Priyanka Gandhi is a member of
an important political family. She may not be seen taking part in active
politics, but she is an active member of the Indian National Congress and she
has been working in Amethi and Rae Bareli,” said Congress general secretary
Janardan Dwivedi, responding to speculation about her presence at the meeting.
“She has her own views on politics and holds deliberations with party workers.
If she has held a meeting with party leaders on any issue, it is neither
surprising nor new.”
Apart from Mr. Dwivedi, others
present included Ms. Sonia Gandhi’s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, Rural
Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, general secretaries Madhusudan Mistry and
Ajay Maken, and director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Contemporary Studies
G. Mohan Gopal.
After the Congress’ poor showing
in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2012 the burden on Ms. Priyanka
Vadra has grown. Indeed, party sources attributed the frequency of her trips to
Rae Bareli to the fact that the constituency needed careful nursing. In 2012,
the Congress lost all five Assembly segments in Rae Bareli, while retaining
only three of the five in Amethi.
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