india has a strange fascination for women political leaders. Indira Gandhi ruled the country with an iron hand till her assassination and even now people talk of her with admiration. The scenario is now supercharged in the Indian political arena as the sister of Rahul Gandhi and granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi has been drafted to bolster the campaign of the Congress party in the Indian state of Utter Pradesh.
Presently she is made in charge of Eastern UP, but the alarm bells are ringing for both Narendra Modi and the duo of Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi party) and Mayawati (BSP).
This duo had sunk their differences and forged an alliance to try and beat the BJP. Bloomberg has reported that she may well be the "trump card" for the Congress party.
Alarm bells
In the last general election in 2014, the BJP had swept the state winning 75 out of the 80 seats, and Congress could win only two. The BSP had been wiped out. In the 2016 assembly election, the BJP again had swept the state winning over 300 seats in a house of 425.
The alarm bells were ringing for the Samajwadi Party and BSP, and they decided that countering Modi was more important than their own antagonism and so joined hands to present a united front against the BJP. In the bargain, they slighted the Congress which wanted to join their alliance by offering just two seats to the grand old party.
Congress party workers morale was low especially after the release of the film "The Accidental Prime Minister" which portrayed the Gandhi family in poor light, but now they are rejuvenated with the entry of Priyanka Gandhi into the election fray. The granddaughter of India Gandhi has mass appeal, and her entry has galvanized the Congress party.
Rahul Gandhi has supported her entry, but he has been leading a lacklustre campaign, and someone with charisma was needed to oppose Modi.
Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi has now emerged from the shadows and the rank and file is enthused. Though there is serious property grabbing charges against her husband Robert Vadra, the sister of Rahul Gandhi is likely to be a game changer.
Last time she had campaigned for the Congress and drew large crowds, but it didn't translate into votes. It will have to be seen how much the enthusiasm of the people translates into seats won in the coming election. The Indian Express has reported that she will campaign in 40 seats in Eastern UP.
Political atmosphere
The political atmosphere in UP is charged. The old adage that whosoever wins in UP rules India which last year had planned an unprecedented landing on the Moons poles is almost true as the state sends 80 MP's to the Lok Sabha. The entry of Priyanka Gandhi has set the alarm bells ringing, and both the SP and BSP will be worried. The BJP will also have its work cut out, and it is clear that 2014 will not be repeated.
The BJP is now relying on the Ram Mandir and cow slaughter to win but this by itself may not give the party the total victory.
Last word
In case the BJP loses 30-50 seats in UP, it will be difficult for the BJP to rule in Delhi. In the meantime, Priyanka has set the UP politics ablaze, and nobody can forecast how the UP voter will vote.
