LS polls saw Priyanka emerge as a leader

From being a behind the scenes strategist, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra emerged as leader during the Lok Sabha elections though the outcome was not what the Congress would have preferred it to be.

Priyanka made her debut in active politics—first as AICC General Secretary incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh (the backyard of a stronger BJP) and gradually spread her wings as the star campaigner for the Congress by reaching out to the electorate through roadshows and rallies.

Priyanka's easy-going approach and the ability to connect with the people was witnessed during her numerous roadshows in Delhi, Sonipat, Indore, and Varanasi where people gathered on either side of the roads and on rooftops to get a glimpse of her.

Congress shielded Priyanka apprehending attacks from the BJP over the allegations of land grab cases in Haryana and Rajasthan, but shed the inhibition and announced her entry into active politics in January, a few months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Put incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka proved to be a relentless campaigner addressing rallies in Assam, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana.

However, a presidential election type of campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to be the Congress' undoing.

Touted as the Congress' 'bramhastra' (trump card), Priyanka's debut in active politics may have proved to be a non-starter, but she would definitely play a significant role within the party along with her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

On Thursday, as the devastating results of the Lok Sabha elections came out, Priyanka was seen driving to the residence of Rahul, where their mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also waiting.

Though disappointment was writ large on many Congress leaders' faces none was ready to blame the Gandhis for the second successive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

“Rahul Gandhi fought from the front. He fought bravely and took on the BJP. Somehow, our real ground agenda of jobs, agriculture, economy, and Rafale failed,” Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

Introducing Priyanka to the Congress Working Committee in February, Rahul had acknowledged that expecting a better performance in the Lok Sabha polls from her was a tough ask.

At the same time, he had made it clear that the task before her and AICC General Secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia – who is incharge of western Uttar Pradesh – was to perform well in the state Assembly elections in 2022 and put the Congress on the revival path.