Priyanka Gandhi's political journey so far

NEW DELHI: Finally Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has made a formal entry into politics as she takes on the role of Congress general secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh. However, she is no greenhorn in politics. For close to two decades, she had been playing her role in politics in one way or the other, mostly indirectly and sometimes in public. Reportedly, she has impacted the Congress party politics in various ways, from influencing distribution of tickets to holding talks with alliance partners. She has openly campaigned in elections, taking on her opponents aggressively. Her easy connect with people has made many party workers demand that she head the party. Below is a brief trajectory of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's political career so far:

1989
She campaigned for her father Rajiv Gandhi in Lok Sabha elections in Amethi constituency.


1999
She campaigned for the Lok Sabha polls in UP. When BJP fielded Arun Nehru — Rajiv Gandhi's cousin and one-time close confidante — as its candidate from Rae Bareli against Capt. Satish Sharma of the Congress, Priyanka made it a point to campaign against Nehru, exhorting voters not to support a turncoat. Attacking him in a speech, she said, "Kya aap uss vyakti ke liye vote karenge, jisne merey pitaa ki peeth mein churi bhonki thi (will you vote for the man who had backstabbed my father?).” Sharma won the election while Nehru finished fourth. Her easy connect with people and assertive behaviour made the party cadre saw similarities between her and her grandmother Indira Gandhi. Priyanka also campaigned for her mother in the Bellary constituency in Karnataka.

2004
She came out in open support of her brother Rahul Gandhi when he fought Lok Sabha polls the first time from Amethi seat vacated for him by his mother Sonia Gandhi who shifted to Rae Bareli. Initially, instead of Rahul, Priyanka was expected to make her electoral debut from Amethi. Her campaigning only in Amethi and Rae Bareli indicated she would not join politics and Rahul would be the political heir of the Gandhi family.

2009
There were calls for her to contest from Sultanpur in Lok Sabha polls. She again campaigned for her brother and mother in Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies. The party cadre had begun to perceive Priyanka as a more accessible and friendlier leader than Rahul.

2014
Much before the Lok Sabha polls, demands for bringing Priyanka formally into politics grew louder. Many workers believed Priyanka could counter a rising Narendra Modi better than Rahul. Allahabad unit of the party triggered a controversy by putting up banners that called for Priyanka's leadership — "Maiya ab rehti bimaar; bhaiyya par pad gaya bhar; Priyanka Phulpur se bano umidwar, party ka karo prachar, Congress sarkar banao teesri baar." (mother remains ill and brother is burdened, fight from Phulpur constituency, campaign for the party and form a Congress government for the the third time). Priyanka, however, was already playing an active role in party's poll strategy. She changed 20 Congress candidates in UP and was in close touch with many candidates nationwide. A Congress leader said she had changed almost 100 candidates all over the country.

BJP fielded Smriti Irani against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi and AAP fielded its popular leader Kumar Vishwas. They together posed a tough challenge to Rahul. Priyanka's campaigning for Rahul was considered a key factor behind his victory with a comfortable margin. She attacked Narendra Modi, then BJP's prime-ministerial candidate, accusing him of doing "neech rajniti". Her comment kicked up a big controversy and pitted her against Modi in public discourse.

2017
Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who was roped in by Congress to help and assist the party in Uttar Pradesh state polls, reportedly suggested Priyanka's name for leading the party in the state. She actively planned UP polls and negotiated with allies like Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav. Till then, Priyanka was often spoken of in party circles as managing the back-end operations of brother Rahul’s political office and overseeing affairs in the home boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli. The successful conclusion of the alliance with SP saw Congress heralding the political launch of Priyanka Gandhi, openly crediting her with clinching the coalition that had seemed to be on the rocks. Priyanka was also said to be instrumental in bringing Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other leaders into the partyfold ahead of the elections to five state assemblies.

2018
She managed the AICC plenary session where Rahul was confirmed as the Congress president. Even as her entry into the electoral fray remained a matter of seasonal speculation, she was learnt to be busy writing a book outlining her “political vision”, a clear ploy to project her as a serious leader. The submission date for the manuscript was reported as March 2019, a month ahead of next general elections. Reportedly, she played a role in formation of the Congress-JD(S) alliance government in Karnataka. At her suggestion, Rahul agreed to offer the chief ministership to HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S). She also played a role in selection of chief ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. She was present along with Sonia at discussions held at Rahul's residence.

2019
Enters politics formally, appointed AICC General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East.