Sonia steals BJP's thunder
George Iype in New Delhi
Star Congress campaigner Sonia Gandhi and her children Priyanka and Rahul appear to have taken the steam
out of the Bharatiya Janata Party's efforts to project the Congress as a rudderless party in the battle to win the general election.
While the appearance of the three Nehrus on the poll scene has electrified the Congress, many in the party say Sonia's deft move is geared to groom Priyanka and Rahul for major roles in Indian politics.
"Sonia has waited six years, studying party affairs and listening to its leaders. Now she seems to have realised that if the family does not take the plunge, the Congress will be reduced to nothing," a former Congress MP, who is close to Sonia, told Rediff On The NeT.
"This is the first time in Congress history that three Nehrus are campaigning for the party. The party is all set to bounce back to power," he said.
While political analysts predict that the Congress will certainly improve its 11th Lok Sabha tally of 141 seats, not many believe the Sonia magic will catapult the party to power.
But party strategists have already begun informal talks with various regional allies for a post-poll alliance. Those who are at this job include Jitendra Prasada, Madhavrao Scindia, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Pranab Mukherjee.
Congress sources claimed that, with Sonia in the saddle, regional parties like the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal will support a Congress-led government at the Centre.
"But the regional allies will switch sides only if Sonia decides to take over the prime ministership," one leader said.
There are two schools of thought in the Congress on Sonia's post-poll role.
A group of leaders loyal to party president Sitaram Kesri feel Sonia will not jump into 'power politics', but remain an alternate power centre.
The other group, which claims to be loyal to 10, Janpath, Sonia's home, say her hectic campaign along with her children clearly indicates that her ultimate desire is taking over the party at 'an
appropriate time'. ''That appropriate time is definitely going to be after the election," a supporter of Congress Working Committee member Arjun Singh said.
This Congress leader said Sonia's decision to groom her children must have arisen from her insecurity about the BJP. She apparently fears the family will be in trouble, due to scandals like the Bofors kickbacks affair.
Moreover, some of her personal advisors like Shiela Dixit and Suman Dubey have reportedly urged her not to remain silent anymore, given the deteriorating state of affairs in the Congress.
With the BJP manifesto harping on the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya, Sonia may now launch an aggressive attack on the saffron brigade, sources said.
Sonia will condemn the BJP as a pro-Hindu, fundamentalist party whose only mission is building temples
and making communities fight each other.
Congress general secretary Madhavrao Scindia, whom Sonia has assigned to collect feedback on her campaign, has already submitted his report to her.
According to the feedback, Sonia's presence along with Priyanka and Rahul on the campaign trail, has "electrified Congress workers and voters across the country".
Scindia has suggested that either Priyanka or Rahul should accompany Sonia when she begins the third phase of her campaign.
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