DOUBLE ENGINE EFFECT

PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA'S INCREASING POLITICAL PRESENCE WOULD BENEFIT HER BROTHER AND THE CONGRESS

- SONI MISHRA

When Sonia Gandhi made her electoral debut in 1999 in Amethi, a young Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied her to the Gandhi family pocketborough. She stood like a rock behind her mother and impressed Congress leaders and the electorate alike with the ease with which she reached out to the people. Comparisons were immediately made with her grandmother, the formidable Indira Gandhi.

In the same election, she also campaigned in the neighbouring Rae Bareli, where Arun Nehru, a relative and once a close associate of her father, Rajiv Gandhi, was contesting. Nehru, who had fallen out with Rajiv and became a political opponent, was believed to be doing well in the campaign. That was until Priyanka made an emotive plea to the voters of Rae Bareli, asking them if they would vote for a person who had backstabbed her father. Nehru lost the election.

Even before that Priyanka had displayed her natural ability to connect with the people. In 1991, she had gone to Allahabad with Sonia and Rahul to immerse the ashes of Rajiv in the Ganga. When they returned to the riverbank and were about to enter the car, she turned towards the crowd that had gathered and bowed to the people with folded hands to acknowledge their goodwill.

Every time there is a Lok Sabha election, rumours of Priyanka contesting abound. In 2004, it was said that she would contest from Amethi and Sonia would move to Rae Bareli. Sonia did move to Rae Bareli, but it was Rahul who got the ticket from Amethi to make his electoral debut.