Priyanka set to play bigger role in Kerala politics

Congress insiders believe Venugopal’s acceptance among the rank and file of the grand old party is because of his position in Delhi.

- BADAR BASHIR

As the Congress party is expecting a win in a byelection in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, there is a belief that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after she wins, will play an expanded role in the intra-party politics in the state and help build the “trajectory” of the state cadre on her terms. The byelection has been necessitated as her brother Rahul Gandhi decided to retain the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat and vacate the Wayanad seat after he won from both places in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Congress decided to field Priyanka from Wayanad.

A political observer tracking national politics said, “Had they given Priyanka a ticket in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP would have picked up the issue of dynastic politics. Also, Priyanka would have got equal importance and stardom during the elections as Rahul Gandhi, if not more, which could have eclipsed Rahul’s prominence in Congress. Now that Rahul Gandhi has emerged as a star performer and a political celebrity, Priyanka has been told to get started. Now, she will have to assert her political power from somewhere, therefore the platform from where she can exercise her electoral and organisational power is Kerala if she wins the election.”