DAWN OF THE DAUGHTER

Move over ‘shezada’ Rahul and ‘ma’ Sonia; ‘behen-beti’ Priyanka has arrived and here to stay. To look for logic in politics is an absolute waste of time. But even if one accepts such a premise, that doesn’t explain the late arrival of Priyanka Gandhi on the campaign scene. On the other hand, which ostensibly might be the actual reason, it was Priyanka’s own decision to jump into the scene to help her brother and mother, that’s another story.

      Priyanka in the past has limited her political activities to campaigning in Amethi and Rae Bareli. She interacts with the locals there and extends a considerate and sensitive ear to their problems and the social issues. She always had a personal touch, a ‘connect’ with the people and an intoxicating demeanour that attracts the masses towards her. She definitely possesses the elusive x-factor i.e. the charisma which is lacking in his brother. Rahul has got a vision of his own which is still not lucid enough to interpret. Either he lacks clarity or he is far ahead of his time. It is the impressive political acumen of Priyanka and the ability to attract crowds that the floundering congress party is trying to exploit to challenge the star presence of Narendra Modi. Priyanka would have been the perfect image booster for congress provided she would have been unveiled in time.

         The last few days, we have witnessed a war of words, the exchange of barbs between Narendra Modi and Priyanka Gandhi grabbing the headlines. There has been a shift of paradigm and the focus of the media has shifted from NaMo-RaGa battle or Modi-Kejriwal tussle to Narendra Modi vs Priyanka Gandhi battle. There has always been a tacit understanding between the two major political parties that they wouldn’t drag the family members of the senior party leaders. But when Modi decided to break this trend, by accentuating the illegal land deals of the ‘jamata’, Priyanka came out of her civility cloak with all guns blazing. Robert Vadra, for obvious reasons, is an easy target for BJP. The reason why Priyanka is reluctant to take the ‘plunge’ is to enjoy a peaceful, private family life. But when her own husband is made a subject of ridicule and attack, she didn’t mince her words which subsequently led to the acrimonious verbal duels. Nobody had anticipated the full frontal attack on Vadra. Perhaps, this is what did it. The shackles were broken and out came the ‘political’ Priyanka. In the age of 24*7 media coverage and social media penetration, it is almost impossible to remain private. Priyanka had managed to do that up to now, but had to relinquish it.

          In a series of aggressive comments, she has not pulled back her punches on Modi and the BJP; instead she has gone on the offensive over repeated attacks on husband Robert Vadra. “They are scrambling like panic-stricken rats. I know they will repeat their bunch of lies. I’m not afraid of anyone” she added. Worse, she is repeatedly showing Modi as ‘child like and immature’. The ‘Amethi beti’ addressed “arey PM banne ki aas rakhte ho toh bachpane main kyun padte ho?” Moreover, she has broken convention and crossed the familial lakshman rekha by criticising brother Varun for straying from the secular path.

          Priyanka, who bears a striking resemblance with her grandmother, is viewed by congressmen as the best hope to revive the party’s fortunes and the torch bearer of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty following Rahul’s lack lustre campaign and failure to woo the voters. Even Indira Gandhi, a few days before her assassination, had said that the 21^st century would belong to Priyanka. She could see her own reflection in Priyanka. Hence it is no secret that over the years, time and again, there has been a demand from the congress workers to induct Priyanka into the party and lead from the front. Like Indira, she has the clarity and confidence and could give her opponents a run for their money.

           But the question remains whether she will occupy a big, fat political post after the elections? Will Sonia and the higher congress bastion allow a passing of baton from Rahul to Priyanka? To answer these questions, one has to read between the lines and draw hypothetical conclusions. If Sonia brings Priyanka to the party as demanded by the rank and file, it would be tantamount to implicitly accept the failure of Rahul Gandhi as a leader. It would be like admitting that Rahul lacks the ability to lead the party, thereby undermining his ascent to the Nehru-Gandhi throne. Albeit Sonia is Italian, she whole heartedly embraced the Indian culture. She readily became Rajiv’s wife, Indira’s daughter-in-law, and mother to Rahul and Priyanka. Unlike Maneka Gandhi, she preferred to remain in the back stage. Hence she is well aware of the fact that Rahul is the elder son and he should be the heir apparent. Also with such a system around, it would create three centres of power. It would lead to more confusion as different factions would owe their allegiance to different power centres. Also, Priyanka’s entry to the party would be vehemently opposed by people like Jairam Ramesh, Montek Singh and Sam Pitroda, who have become very close to Rahul Gandhi.

        On a personal note, Priyanka and Rahul are both very close to each other. They are not antagonistic; they complement each other. Priyanka would never do anything that would jeopardize her relations with her brother. The entry of Rahul Gandhi into Indian politics in 2004 was meted with same hype, fervour and expectation as witnessed now in case of Priyanka. But Priyanka has confined her campaigning and political activities to Amethi and Rae Bareli. It would be interesting to see her impact on a more larger national scale. And finally, whether Priyanka herself would want to enter the political field? Given that the Gandhis have always been reluctant politicians, and she wanting to lead a private life, will she bite the bullet? Robert Vadra has become the biggest liability and a baggage to the party. Her entry into active politics would in turn highlight his misdeeds.

        What course of action will Priyanka take is a matter of conjecture and pondering. But one thing is sure that the ‘political’ Priyanka has arrived. But she has a long way to go and prove herself despite the claims by senior congress leaders. Even as if she represents a rainbow on a distant horizon for the congress party, she connotes an ephemeral reality.