Sources suggest that the Congress high command might appoint Priyanka Gandhi as the in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, sidelining Jyotiraditya Scindia. The move is seen at keeping the power centres within the Gandhi family
Bengaluru: Congress is a party that is more than 100 years old, priding itself in the fact that it runs on democracy.
But never has it honoured democracy, at least in its intra-party activities.
Take for example, when there are so many worthwhile youngsters who can be handed over the reins, the Congress decided that Rahul Gandhi, son of Sonia Gandhi would lead All India Congress Committee.
And when the party faced humiliating defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi understood his time was up and he was incapable to lead the party. It was indeed a golden time for the party to blood a youngster to lead it. But again, no democracy was honoured. The reins were handed back to the Gandhi family, with Sonia Gandhi being the president for the interregnum.
Now, shift your focus to Uttar Pradesh where BJP’s Yogi Adityanath is ruling the roost.
With a view to bolstering its chances in the 2022 state elections, Rahul Gandhi had sent his sister Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia to oversee its preparedness. Though there are three more years left, the Congress has sounded the poll bugle now itself.
Well, that is a good move indeed. But sources tell us that Priyanka Gandhi will be made the Congress in-charge of UP, at the expense of Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is seen as a capable leader.
Also read: Priyanka Gandhi 'last weapon' of Congress: Anant Kumar Hegde
Again, the Congress is honouring the dynasty principle it has always followed.
“In Congress, they don’t elect people. They only select people. To them, Priyanka appears to be more popular than Scindia. Therefore, they go by that decision to make her the in-charge,” noted a political analyst Shivananda Patil.
It is interesting to note that when Priyanka Gandhi was made the in-charge of eastern UP during 2019 polls, the Congress won only one seat from that region. The then AICC chief Rahul Gandhi lost from Amethi.
Last Updated Sep 3, 2019, 5:51 PM IST