New Delhi: AICC general secretary Priyanka Vadra’s withdrawal from taking on PM Modi in Varasi stem from various reasons.
She would not be entering the fray without the support of local chieftains like Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadev; however, the duo wouldn’t at any cost want to see the Congress making gains from their backyard.
Perhaps, it would be as much important for them as defeating BJP. On the other hand, Nehru family wouldn’t want Priyanka to be a loner without the backing of any political consensus.
Congress dubbed Nehru family as the first family of the nation. Getting defeated by Modi would undermine her star value. Alongside, Rahul’s situation in Amethi is not stable either.
Defeating Nehru family members would help spike the graph of both BJP and Modi. As well as the responsibility of eastern UP, Priyanka has the role of assisting Rahul in campaign.
Contesting from Varansi would leave her bound to the constituency. However, one of the questions arising from within Congress is if not Priyanka enters into electoral politics now, when she would be doing it.
Many in the Congress believe that fielding Priyanka could help the Congress capitalize on the discontent of upper castes in the BJP. The Congress would be missing a golden opportunity, many argued.
Talks are on in Congress to field Priyanka either in Wayanad or Amethi as Rahul’s abandons one of them post victory. Meanwhile, Opposition parties, thanks to disunity amongst them, has given a free run to Modi in Varanasi.
In the last polls, Modi bagged the seat with a margin of 3.7 votes, his arch rival Kejariwal won 2 lakh votes, while Ajay Rai of Congress managed just 75,614 votes.