Priyanka’s role set to expand

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expanding her role in the organisation. Accordingly, she will coordinate the campaign of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi throughout the country in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Her role of coordinator is seen as bigger than her campaigning in Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Lok Sabha seats of Mrs Gandhdi and Rahul, respectively.
In that role she would interact directly with party candidates, PCC chiefs, party chief ministers and central and state leaders.
Although the party had played down her participation in a meeting of senior leaders at Mr Rahul Gandhi’s residence last week, this is the first time it has acknowledged Priyanka’s role in Congress politics beyond Amethi and Rae Bareli.
“Priyanka Gandhi will campaign only in Rae Bareli and Amethi. She has been campaigning in Rae Bareli and Amethi earlier also. She will also coordinate the coordinate the countrywide tour programmes of the Congress president and the party vice-president, which she had been doing in the past as well,” AICC general secretary and communication department chairman Ajay Maken said.
Priyanka’s meeting with top Congress leaders earlier this week at the residence of her brother Rahul had created a flutter in political circles, triggering speculation whether she is in for a major role ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Raj Babbar said, “The matter ends if the chairman of the communication department has given a statement. The chairman has told you about the decision of the party. There is no need to say anything further on it.”
Meanwhile, the Congress is expected to make only a passing reference to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) factor in the resolution at the AICC meeting here on January 17, apparently trying to play down the buzz caused by Arvind Kejriwal’s party across the country.
Party sources said the AICC meeting, which will have only one resolution, is unlikely to play up the emergence of AAP following its stunning show in the Delhi Assembly polls last month.