New Delhi : After back-to-back poll routs in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi, a familiar murmur was heard in Congress — a national leadership role for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. That murmur has now grown into voices within the party publicly calling for a meaty central role for Priyanka, whose transition from a behind-the-scenes strategist to a frontline shrewd politician has not gone unnoticed. The spark was lit by senior Odisha MLA Mohammed Moquim, who, in his letter to Sonia Gandhi, questioned the Congress leadership and suggested a greater role for Priyanka.
On Tuesday, another voice from the Congress echoed Moquim’s sentiment — Saharanpur MP Imran Masood. Masood, in fact, went a step further and asserted that the Wayand MP would make for a great prime minister like Indira Gandhi. Masood, who is known to be close to Priyanka, made the remarks when he was asked about the Congress general secretary’s recent comment on the violence against Hindus in unrest-hit Bangladesh.
She is Priyanka Gandhi, a Gandhi by name, the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who dealt Pakistan such a blow that its scars remain even today. Make her the prime minister and see the retaliation. You would not dare to do that,” Masood told ANI. The Saharanpur MP’s remarks caused a stir in the Congress, which has been projecting Rahul Gandhi as the face taking on the Modi government. Hours later, Masood issued a clarification, seemingly after a prod from the All India Congress Committee.
Imran Masood clearly said he has no faith in Rahul Gandhi anymore. Rahul hatao Priyanka Gandhi laao. Now, he wants to work towards making Priyanka Gandhi the prime minister… This means Rahul has not just lost the public vote; his allies rejected him, and now there seems to be a problem in Janpath also. Rahul Gandhi neither has janmat, nor sangat, nor support from Janpath,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted.
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