Priyanka Debuts
By Poonam I Kaushish
In our continuing poll pantomime this week’s flavour is pedigree. No, I am not talking about the canine variety, but our political lineage. If Indian democracy rests on one-man-one vote principle, elections are all about one family. Be it Maharashtra or Jharkhand. But all eyes are on Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha bye-election where Congress has fielded Nehru-Gandhi’s Gen Next to the lilting tune of Bhai-Bahen as Rahul vacates seat to nominate 52-year old Priyanka as its candidate. Seventh from the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
Thirty-five is many years but perhaps not a long time in politics. That’s how long Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been campaigning she said as an introduction, while seeking support for herself. She formally joined politics in 2019 as Congress general secretary. With bruising defeats specially in UP and rare win in Himachal last year as poll in-charge.
Undeniably, she is charismatic, has a striking resemblance to grandmother Indira, has clarity and confidence, is lucid and easily ‘connects’ with people, unlike brother Rahul who could only establish a bond after his 4000 kms long Bharat Jorho padyatra. Said a family retainer, “She is a bom natural, political savvy, has spontaneity and ability to deliver a punch that has crowds eating from hands, unlike Rahul who is much sober.”
Yet, her political CV and credentials are zilch. She has no active political experience, if one discounts her stints as campaign manager for Sonia and Rahul in Rae Bareli and speeches in UP, Punjab, Haryana.
Raising a moot point: How electrifying Priyanka’s campaign will be is anybody’s guess? Will victory be a cakewalk? More so, given innumerable scams engulfing husband Robert Vadra, her Albatross, regardless of her popularity? Can she replicate grandmother Indira’s sense of political timimg a la Belchi camage riding on an elephant and élan? Despite Wayanad being a ‘safe’ seat. Viewed as Congress’s strategic move, Priyanka’s campaign will be most dissected as a constituency devastated by natural disaster demands hard politics. She would have to bring in her own brand of politics to really burnish her credentials and not depend on bhai Rahul’s desi vibes which were on ample display when she went to file nomination, mother Sonia in tow.
By putting Priyanka in Wayanad, experts believe the move shields Congress from criticism that Gandhi family ignored the South despite the Party reaping rich electoral dividends from the region. Her entry will not only energise workers by conveying that she has stepped out of the shadows to bat alongside her brother and mother to strengthen the Nehru-Gandhi family’s grip on Congress leadership and affirming its role in deciding the Party’s future.
“Priyanka is the all-important roll of dice for us. Whether she occupies voters mind-space or not, Congress will benefit by her presence,” said a senior Congress leader. It could see the Party metamorphise into a brother-sister duet given the strong bond between them and Priyanka would leave no stone unturned to help Rahul without overshadowing him.
Yet, her detractors have latched on Rahul’s comment “electing her will ensure Wayanad gets two MPs, one official, one unofficial,” may have meant to communicate sister-bro commitment to the constituency but could be construed as her being Rahul’s proxy. Team work is good but shadow MP is a strict no-no.
There is a down side to Priyanka. If she eclipses Rahul, makes him redundant and becomes a power centre it could prove disastrous for Congress. Succinctly asserted an old timer: Ek mayaan main doh talwarein nahin rahe saktee hain. Priyanka is a sure winner.” It remains to be seen if she proves to be a big crowd puller and an asset in the perception battle.
Besides, she is no Indira or for that matter no Sonia either who resurrected the Congress’s fortunes. At least, not yet. Her intellectual ability is untested. True, she has succeeded in family pocket boroughs but they don’t represent the whole country. In an aspirational new India with over 50% of electorate between 18-35 seeking jobs and good quality of life, charisma is not a prescription drug for election victory.
Moreso, in the backdrop of Priyanka defending husband Robert’s controversial land deals and questionable ill-gotten wealth Congress’s first jawairaja’ is accused of receiving undue favours from Delhi-based realty firm DLF wherein his wealth jumped from Rs 50 lakh in 2007 to Rs 300 crore in 2012. Priyanka has shown only Rs 37 and 27 crores as Robert’s movable and immovable assets.
Complicating matters, Enforcement Directorate accuses Vadra of money laundering and illegal possession of foreign assets including two high-end properties and six flats in London worth 12 million pounds bought between 2005-10 from kickbacks in defence and petroleum deals during UPA1 Government. The BJP continues to paint Congress jawairaja corrupt.
Vadra is also being investigated for 275 bigha land in Rajasthan’s Bikaner allegedly in violation of rules. The ED registered a case in 2015 after Rajasthan police filed a chargesheet alleging forgery in land allotment. Priyanka, like a pati-vratha wife underscores, “I stand by my family”, as ED subjects Vadra to questioning on his links with an arms dealer and money laundering. It’s another matter that the Party has changed its earlier stance of “Vadra is a private citizen.
Now, with her entering the political arena Vadra’s dubious deals seem to have gathered steam despite him being under investigation for some years. Undeniably, Vadra is the Damocles’ sword over Priyanka’s head.
Senior Congress leaders worry whether flamboyant Vadra would remain in the background or start making public statements. Given that time out of number he has made plain his political ambitions of fighting elections.
BJP feels Priyanka’s candidature has brought Vadra’s corruption scandals onto “centre-stage”, which could benefit the Party. Others, however, state it could backfire if not handled sagaciously. Not a few are puzzled why the Modi Government has failed to act against Vadra.
Priyanka would do well to remember that politics is not a part-time occupation. Also, votes, not media space win elections and electoral success or failure is the only test of political legitimacy. Even as she represents a rainbow in the Congress horizon today she connotes an ephemeral reality: A gamble which could bomb dramatically or blaze a trail of fame
Priyanka’s ability to step away from the forever-campaigning sibling role will decide her career in politics. With expectations running high, she has her task cut out and will be judged by her ability to deliver Wayanad and other electoral victories. One can win elections by invoking the family name but for how many elections and how long? She has a long way to go to prove herself as a leader who can resurrect the Party’s fortunes.
The Congress needs to remember that the best political systems are based on holding free, fair and regular Party elections. In the long run, short-term hereditary gain would sound the death- knell of the Party. The time has come for it to do some soul-searching. Is the dynasty a panacea for the Party’s and nation’s ills? For how long can one bank on family background and sacrifices and uphold true democracy? Or else continue to wallow in the political cesspool which hails the rising bhai-bahen and my feudal Congress. — INFA