Priyanka Gandhi who rarely gives statements in media, released her statement to journalists following reports that she was keen to be the Congress candidate from Varanasi as she was willing to place a higher principle above the real risk of defeat. She trashed reports that she wanted to challenge Narendra Modi for the Lok Sabha seat from Varanasi and was stopped by the party high command, stating it is a “personal” decision not to contest and that her family would wholeheartedly support her if she ever wanted to. Italian culture is somewhat similar to Indian culture, while Indian culture promotes son and Italian culture gives the legacy to daughter. Sonia Gandhi was always inclined towards Rahul Gandhi for power than Priyanka, in spite of knowing that Priyanka has much more potential that Rahul. She went on to reinforce her earlier remarks that she wanted to campaign only in Amethi, from where her brother is contesting, and in Rae Bareli, from where her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi is fighting. There has been speculation that Congress is keen on Priyanka playing a bigger role in the party. According to the reports, the decision by Congress on whom to field from Varanasi against Modi was delayed. Congress MLA from there was finally named as the Congress candidate from the holy city. She has always defined her own political role. Priyanka Gandhi decides her own role and has chosen to work in the constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli. BJP was screaming that Priyanka Gandhi should have contested from Varanasi. Her husband Robert Vadra should have contested from Vadodara and other members of the Congress’ family of maladministration, who have run away from elections, should also have contested. However, she can be the toughest contender if she comes to active politics against Narendra Modi. There is no problem if she or her husband contest the election as they are very much Indians and have full rights to carry forward the legacy.
At this moment, there are anti-Congress waves and many leaders like Manmohan Singh are on the radar of opposition. Recently, two books have been released which has brought him under controversy. At the end of Dr. Singh’s second tenure, his image is completely deteriorating. It is indeed hard to believe that an eminent economist surrendered before someone. The essence of sound democratic practice is real and on-going consultations among colleagues before important decisions are taken are important. It is quite right in pointing out that the Manmohan Singh government established an exemplary precedent in democratic leadership. Unthinking people applaud a so-called ‘strong leader’ without reflecting what damage such a person can inflict on democracy itself. Other than fascists, even leftists have made the same unforgivable mistake and paid heavily for it, as Russians did under Stalin. Churchill’s memoirs and Barbara Tuchman’s history of World War I both show how the cabinets of so-called great democracies bestowed decision-making into the hands of one man. Baru’s book is the work of a populist journalist and not that of a serious political theorist. The PM being subservient to Sonia is one of the worst legacies that destroyed the office of the prime minister of India. This was a relationship of indecisiveness, large scale of corruption, and of making Sonia/Rahul look good at the expense of everyone else. The author has used euphemisms. There is absolutely no misunderstanding about this master-servant relationship in the minds of anyone. In fact, most people have not found anything new in what Mr. Baru “revealed”. Unless the Congress manages to change or rewrite history to make a certain family look good as it has in the past, this legacy will be considered one of the darkest in Indian history. Why justify it?
After Manmohan Singh’s recent hullabaloo and Rahul Gandhi’s utter failure, in spite of being matured and sensible leader, has damaged the prospects for Congress. Sonia seems to be the most hated politician of this country at the moment. Congress hardly has any senior leader who has been largely accepted by the people. Though there are many capable leaders, but Congress is facing leadership crises. After a long time, BJP has got a leader like Narendra Modi, who can actually infuse life into his dead party. Even after so much hype, there is no guarantee that Modi will take the party to the power of corridor in the centre.
On the other hand, if you go to rural India, most of the senior citizens are loyal to hand and still votes on Indira Gandhi’s name. They don’t know the contender but they vote because of Indira Gandhi. Priyanka’s political rallies gather much crowd because people see her resemblance in Priyanka. Ever since Priyanka Gandhi hit her teenage in the mid-1980s, she looked like her late grandmother. When Priyanka sports those typical cotton sarees and curly hairstyle, she exactly looks like Indira, and perhaps this is nostalgia for those traditional Congress voters. Priyanka bore the most stunning resemblance ever, to her grandmother. If Congress gives a strongest push by bringing Priyanka Gandhi to the forefront of the party in such crises, Congress may see some ray of hope for her party.
