It may appear that the BJP is seeking to divide the Gandhi family following the conclusion of the lacklustre winter session of Parliament. Some of the top ministers of the government, have of late, been praising Priyanka for her dignity and conduct, while simultaneously being critical of her brother, Rahul, who also happens to be the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The strategy may get viewed as an attempt to draw a wedge between the two siblings. To add to the fire, some Congress leaders have jumped into the arena and are demanding that Priyanka should be made the supreme leader and she would also make a very good Prime Minister as and when the time arrives. They forget that Narendra Modi is going nowhere and there is no vacancy for the top position, and the Congress has to go a long way to even think of wresting power from the BJP.
The Rahul-Priyanka alleged differences saga is an old one and has played out multiple times in the power play which often gets witnessed in the grand old party, which shall be celebrating its 141st foundation day on Sunday. Makhan Lal Fotedar, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi’s political adviser, had mentioned emphatically in his book, “The Chinar Leaves” that the former Prime Minister had wanted her granddaughter to inherit her political legacy. Fotedar wrote that on her visit to Kashmir, a few days before she was brutally assassinated by her security guards, Indira Gandhi had mentioned to him, her desire to see her granddaughter in the role of the Prime Minister in the future.
Fotedar had stated in the book that Indira had entrusted him with the task of ensuring that Priyanka came into politics to play a stellar role. According to him, she had stated that Priyanka would remind people of her and once Priyanka came into public life, the masses would see her (Indira’s) image in her and accept her.
Fotedar had said that he had mentioned this to Rajiv Gandhi after Indira’s tragic death. He had laughed it off by stating, “Achha Mummy aisi kehti thi”. Later following Rajiv’s assassination, he brought this to the notice of Sonia Gandhi, who kept quiet and started slowly distancing herself from him. She had already made up her mind that it was Rahul alone who would inherit the political legacy of his grandmother.
In fact, Fotedar paid a heavy price for this communication. He was never given any major political position all through Sonia’s tenure as the Congress chief, though being a loyalist, he continued to advise her on critical matters as and when the need arose.
Subsequently, Priyanka was kept out of the electoral arena for a long time but she continued to campaign actively for both her brother and mother in every election that was contested. In Amethi, where Smriti Irani was flexing her muscles, it was Priyanka who helped Kishori Lal Sharma, to humble her in the 2024 elections.
Priyanka is now in the Lok Sabha from Wayanad, Rahul’s old constituency and has been widely noticed for her very effective political speeches. She has never hesitated in taking on the BJP leadership and also makes strong points during her interventions. However, it does not imply that she is at any time going to replace Rahul as the principal leader.
Over the past few years, Rahul has secured his position as the number one leader in the party and is today viewed by political analysts as the sole voice against the Prime Minister. His opposition to the BJP and its policies is both vocal and consistent. It is another matter that he needs to be more focused on his political activity, which often gets disrupted during his unexpected foreign tours.
Within the Congress, he has patronized certain people who he considers close to him and feels are good for the future of the party.
Those who have been left out of the power structure are obviously fuming. Some now have started supporting Priyanka publicly, believing that it was their only chance of getting into the inner coterie of the Gandhis.
There are Priyanka critics as well who are in the party and feel that she should not have attended the tea meeting with PM Modi after the end of the session.
Those who follow the Congress affairs closely also know that Sonia’s preferred choice is Rahul. It also suits the Congress if the brother-sister rivalry is projected since it prevents anyone from outside the family to come up and challenge Rahul’s leadership.
If the tussle is projected to be between Rahul and Priyanka, which it is not, any third person wishing to throw his hat in the ring would be unable to make any mark. The message in the present context is that the leadership would always remain with the Gandhis.
There are many in the party who have been waiting in the wings and wish to play a bigger role. This they also know can only be done if the Gandhis wish.
Such is their stranglehold. Rahul’s position and popularity is unaffected and he shall continue to be the supreme leader of the party. Between us.
