After the humiliating loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, senior leaders of the Congress party seems to have now decided to put their weight behind another Gandhi scion – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as they believe that she could revive the party in place of her brother Rahul Gandhi.
It was evident after Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar decided to fall back on Priyanka Gandhi as he claimed that her point of view on various issues resonates with the public and that if BJP leaders are afraid of any Congress leader, then it was only Priyanka Gandhi.
Heaping praises on the work of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Babbar added, “In fact, Priyankaji’s points are now resonating with the public, which the BJP is unable to see or read. They are intentionally keeping their eyes closed as they are under deep influence of power.”
He added, “If BJP leaders are feeling afraid of anyone, it is Priyanka Gandhi, as they are unable to give an answer to points raised by her. And, they (BJP) find her points and concern only confined to Twitter, while the reality is that her points have started assimilating in the hearts of people.”
Responding to a question on the dismal performance of the Congress party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Babbar said that it is not about looking towards her and everyone has reposed faith in Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as she has taken full-fledged responsibility of the party.
Talking about the upcoming by-polls in the state, Babar said that if there is any party, which can honestly give a fight to the BJP, it was the Congress. He added that other parties are feeling afraid. “The Congress is fighting with full seriousness, and people who have ears to the ground (zameen ke log) have gradually started associating themselves with the Congress. This is a good sign,” the actor-turned-politician said.
The gradual shift of support from Rahul Gandhi to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by the party cadres and senior leaders comes at a time when the party is fighting an existential battle ahead of the crucial state assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. Senior leaders of the party in both the states have already quit the party to join either the BJP or Shiv Sena ahead of the assembly elections, which has further diminished party’s power in their one-time stronghold states.
Ahead of the state elections in Haryana, the Congress party is facing internal bickering as senior Congress leaders in the state have openly criticised the party for its stand on the recent abrogation of Article 370. Former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda had recently hit back at the Congress party saying it has lost its way for opposing the abrogation of Article 370.
With Congress party being a divided house in Haryana, the upcoming assembly elections in the state are expected to be an easy battle for Khattar led Bharatiya Janata Party. After the success of sweeping all the 10 seats in Lok Sabha elections, Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP in Haryana has exuberated the confidence of posting a record win in the upcoming assembly elections.
