While speculations of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra heading the poll campaign in the State has brought smiles to faces of some Congress leaders, others are however, sceptical about her impact. The common refrain is that the Congress can benefit in the Assembly polls only if Vadra is to be projected as the CM face.
"Priyanka is not going to make a big difference or change the party’s poll fortune as 'chief campaigner’ in the next Assembly polls. She might be able to garner some votes but can not decisively help the party candidates,” quipped a former Congress legislator.
"Had Priyanka's charisma worked even in Rae Bareli and Amethi where she is in-charge of campaigning, why did the party fail to win a single Assembly seat in Rae Bareli and won only two in Amethi in the 2012 Assembly polls," he querried.
The Congress workers and people know that Priyanka would be in the State till the elections were over. The people want Priyanka to stay here and head the State Government and stymie the deteriorating condition. Hence she should be projected as the CM face of t he partry,” the leader suggested.
But several many Congress leaders thought otherwise. They felt that the party would make a comeback even if Priyanka agreed to spearhead the poll campaign. "Priyanka being made the party’s chief election campaigner would definitely give Congress the edge over other political opponents and the party would stand a bright chance of forming the next Government in UP,” said a UPCC spokesman.
Another Congress leader from Allahabad said that he was happy that at last the party brass had realised Priyanks's potential and leadership quality and has decided to make her in-charge of UP.
"Only Priyanka has the charisma to take on the three ‘Ms’ – Modi, Mulayam and Mayawati and ensure a Congress comeback,” the leader exuuded confidence.