New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress’ charismatic leader, on Friday dismissed speculation about her taking up a major post in the organisation, calling it “conjecture” and “baseless rumours”.
“The constant conjecture about my assuming various posts in the Congress and the manner in which this issue is brought up at opportune moments is incorrect,” Ms Gandhi said in a brief statement here. “I would be very grateful to all concerned if they desisted from encouraging such baseless rumours,” she added.
However, she has not made it clear whether she would be active in the organisation or confine her role to Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Lok Sabha seats of her mother Sonia and brother Rahul respectively.
If Congress insiders are be believed, Ms Gandhi has already expanded her role in the party. In the Lok Sabha elections held in April-May this year, she had finalised election tours of Mrs Gandhi and Mr Gandhi across the country. She had even attended the party’s strategy meetings. She does not want to come to the fore for the obvious reason that it would create a third centre of power in the party.
While senior party leaders like Oscar Fernandes, Jan-ardan Dwivedi, K.V. Thomas and party spokesperson Shobha Oza suggested Ms Gandhi play a larger role, many leaders in the party feel this would help the Congress’ revival across the country.
