'Priyanka just a 'pretty face',has no political talent'

Bihar cabinet minister and BJP leader Vinod Narayan Jha on Friday became the latest opposition leader to attack Priyanka Gandhi after her entry into active politics. The public health engineering department (PHED) minister said apart from Priyanka's "beauty", she has no political achievements.

"Votes can't be won on the basis of beautiful faces. Moreover, she is the wife of Robert Vadra, who is accused of being involved in land scam and corruption cases. She's very beautiful but other than that, she holds no political achievement," Vinod Narayan Jha was quoted as saying to news agency ANI.

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The ascension of Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh has triggered conversations on her as well as the party's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. BJP leaders, including prime minister Narendra Modi, have accused the Congress of playing dynasty politics.

On Friday, Union Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said Priyanka has been made the general secretary today and her children will get the job tomorrow. "Priyanka Gandhi has campaigned for elections earlier as well. The public hasn't made her the Secretary. The public will judge which leadership can take the country ahead," he told ANI.

Twitterati called out the Bihar minister for making sexist comments.

Even political leaders responded his remarks

JD(U) MLC Ashok Choudhary said, "This is definitely not a remark we would approve of. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has an undeniable charisma and aura which may or may not bring desired results in the elections. But the way she has been spoken about does not appear to be in good taste."

"Jha seems to have forgotten that he had been a paid staff of Youth Congress when Rajiv Gandhi was at the helm of affairs. And now he is making such a disgusting remark against the late Prime Minister's daughter. Nitish Kumar should sack him immediately and try to give him additional security as his foul utterances could lead to serious reactions from the Congress cadre," Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said.

RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said the remark is deplorable. The minister should be immediately sacked by Nitish Kumar, else there will be serious consequences, he said.

"The remark makes our blood boil. It betrays a perverse attitude towards women on part of the state minister. In the past, BJP leaders have made unsavoury comments about Sonia Gandhi's fair complexion. I would like to caution women in the BJP rank and file that in the midst of such perverts they must worry about their own security and dignity," RJD MLA and spokesperson Ejya Yadav said.

Congress MLA from Benipatti constituency Bhavna Jha remarked sarcastically, "Vinod Narayan Jha was defeated by me - an ordinary party worker - in the last assembly polls. It is natural for him to feel scared of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He may be upset with Priyanka's beauty since he himself is not bestowed with good looks."

(With inputs from PTI)