Samikhsya Bureau
With the enthusiasm among the Congress cadre for the party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra rising on the graph, hints are clear that the Congress leadership might give it a serious thought to pit her as the candidate to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, which naturally may get the best national attention in this festival of democracy.
The Congress may have declined any move to field her from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat but the idea of Gandhi Vadra contesting for Lok Sabha polls seems to have tremendous support among the party workers who feel it could have a ‘morale boosting’ effect on the party cadres in the state, where the grand old party is fighting against odds to make its presence felt.
Reports that Congress could field Gandhi Vadra from Varanasi have been doing the rounds since the last few weeks. When asked on the issue, the party on Saturday said that it would not comment on hearsay and that media would be informed if any such decision is taken.
Addressing media persons at AICC headquarters, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “We don’t comment on hearsay. The party will let you know if any decision will be taken on it.”
According to a section of party leaders, Gandhi Vadra contesting the Lok Sabha elections from a seat in Uttar Pradesh will benefit Congress in the state as well as other parts of the country.
In fact, party leaders and workers from Uttar Pradesh feel a decision by Gandhi Vadra to contest for the Lok Sabha elections will enhance the Congress’ poll prospects across the country. The reports of her contesting the Lok Sabha elections have been doing the rounds ever since she was made the general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (east).
In fact, in reply to queries by reporters during her campaign meetings in the state, she expressed her willingness to contest for the Lok Sabha elections if the party wished.
Party leaders feel that a decision to field her, especially from the strategically important constituency like Varanasi, could strongly put forth a message among the people of the state that the party is fighting the election in Uttar Pradesh on the front foot.
It is notable that after being ignored by the BSP and SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress had announced its decision to go it alone in the state and contest on all 80 Lok Sabha seats. Gandhi Vadra’s candidature would only bolster this message.
Party sources said Gandhi Vadra’s decision to campaign in Uttar Pradesh as well as other parts of the country is sure to improve chances of the Congress to oust the BJP from power.
Sources say that Gandhi Vadra taking on the might of PM Modi from Varanasi would enthuse the party cadres in the state, where the party has been reduced to being a fringe player in the last few years.
The best show by the party in the last two decades in Uttar Pradesh was in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when the party managed to win 21 seats, out of 80 Lok sabha seats of the state. However, in the face of a strong Modi wave in 2014, the party was reduced to an abysmal two seats.
Though till now the party has remained non committal on her candidature, sources said the party top brass is actively considering the idea of fielding her from Varanasi or Allahabad in an attempt to take the battle to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
In this context, political observers attach significance to a statement made by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli earlier this week after filing her nomination for the seat. After filing her nomination from Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi was asked if she felt Modi was invincible. “Not at all… Don’t forget 2004, Vajpayee ji was invincible but we won,” she said.
She added that people of the country were fed up with the BJP and Narendra Modi and they had made up their mind to replace him.
If Gandhi Vadra contests from Varanasi, it will be the most-watched contest in the Lok Sabha election 2019, where a member of the Gandhi family will directly challenge the might of PM Modi, that too from Varanasi.
Though a final decision on her candidature from Varanasi would be taken only by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, political observers feel that she is best contender to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi as with sharp attacks on him during her campaign in Uttar Pradresh over the last month, she has established herself as an able contender against him.
PM Modi, who contested for the first time from Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, won by a massive margin of 3.70 lakh votes. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was the runner up, polling over 2 lakh votes. Congress candidate Ajay Rai got 75,000 odd votes.
Though taking on PM Modi on his home turf looks to be an impossible task, many feel that Gandhi Vadra with her fresh appeal and her startling resemblance to her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has the ability to win the hearts of the electorate, thus posing a serious challenge to the popularity enjoyed by Modi.
Party workers in Uttar Pradesh say that with her confident demeanour and ability to win the hearts of the common man, Gandhi Vadra reminds them of Indira Gandhi. Fielding her from Varanasi is being seen as another of the major surprises from the Congress for the BJP.
Congress has already surprised political pundits by announcing Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad in Kerala apart from the traditional bastion of Amethi.
Even Gandhi Vadra’s entry into formal politics ahead of Lok Sabha polls was a surprise. Viewed in this context, the chances of Gandhi Vadra finally contesting against PM Modi cannot be completely ruled out.
(With UNI inputs)
