Personal touch, spunk and spontaneity: How Priyanka lifted Amethi-Rae Bareli campaign | India News – Times of India

RAE BARELI/AMETHI: Recently, when Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi reached Bachhrawan in Rae Bareli for addressing an evening election gathering, the time window given by the police for the meeting had expired. That meant she couldn’t use the public address system. Undeterred, the star campaigner got the venue’s noisy genset shut down, sat atop her SUV and spoke extempore without a mike, with the crowd providing illumination with mobilephone torches.Videos of the address rapidly went viral (see pic on right).
Several election analysts have noted that they are seeing a more spontaneous and articulate Priyanka in these elections. This was evident in her intensive campaign in Rae Bareli and Amethi, where she was canvassing for brother Rahul and Gandhi family’s close associate Kishori Lal Sharma. “Her campaign incorporated a fair dose of randomness and unpredictability. She stopped anywhere and walked up to anyone who welcomed her for an interaction,” said a Congress spokesperson.
Most palpably, her taking charge of the campaign energised Congress workers in the twin constituencies. In her maiden address to party workers, Priyanka said they had to pull up their socks and be ready to work 20 hours a day.
Those working with Priyanka said ‘Didi’ (as she is affectionately called) led by example. “She began her day with a quick strategy meet and hit the road by 10.30am, returning as late as 11pm,” a team member said.
“After returning, she convened meetings to finalise the next day’s schedule and retired only after midnight,” he added. Her speeches generally began with warm greetings and an apology if she had reached the venue late. “Mera abhivadan sweekar kijiye aap sab aur maaf kijiyega thodi si vilamb ke liye. Aapko dhoop mein baithna pada (Please accept my greetings, and apologies for coming late and making you wait in the sun),” she said, at times mentioning the reason for the delay.
Her poll pitch has been sharp and she has been quick to respond to barbs and issues raised by the saffron camp. But more than these, Priyanka’s personal touch has added to the enthusiasm of local people and workers.
“The respect Priyanka shows to Sharma — who was dubbed as her ‘peon’ by some BJP leaders — has also been appreciated,” said a Congress supporter. “Kishori Bhaiya ne aap sabka bahut khayal rakha hai itne saal. Wo aapke aur humare rishtey ka pul hain. Is baar pratyashi ban ke aaye hain. Hum sab ko mil ke inki jeet sunishchit karni hai (All these years, brother Kishori has acted as a bridge between you and the party leadership. He is the candidate this time and we have to ensure his victory),” Priyanka said during a public meeting.
Often in her speeches, Priyanka has swiftly changed gears to aggressively attack BJP, PM Modi and the party’s candidates before softening her tone again to explain to the people the importance of their vote. In a public meeting, she called Amethi and Rae Bareli “her family” and, with teary eyes, narrated how Amethi helped her recover from the tragic death of her father as she went from village to village to build the Congress organisation in 1999 for her mother’s first election.
At a meeting in Kamalganj, when a woman talked about the problem of stray cattle while another recalled how she benefited from the self-help group network evolved during Rahul’s tenure as Amethi MP, Priyanka seized the moment to target the saffron camp. “The BJP played politics and got the SHG scheme closed.”
During a ‘nukkad sabha’ in Naseerabad, a youth walked up to Priyanka and pointed to a statue of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, urging her to offer floral tributes. Priyanka descended from the stage and almost ran to the statue, with the crowd following her.
“She’s running on pure resolve. She barely eats through the day. Foxnuts and ‘nimbu pani’ are her staple. At times, she prefers a ‘parantha achaar’ roll and eats in between public meetings,” said a Congress functionary.