Priyanka Gandhi's Pitch Has Been Extremely Childish

(Yashwant Sinha is a BJP Member of Parliament and a former Union Minister of External Affairs)

The Congress party has suddenly discovered its knight in shining armour in Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. (India Votes 2014: LIVE updates here)

When all their shenanigans failed and neither Sonia Gandhi nor Rahul Gandhi were able to match the charismatic appeal of Narendra Modi,  Priyanka was brought into the fray. Though she was campaigning only in Rae Bareli and Amethi and was addressing small gatherings, the media, starved of any excitement in Rahul Gandhi's campaign, decided to focus entirely on Priyanka Vadra. (Also read: Media Much Too Liberal With the Gandhis: Arun Jaitley to NDTV)

During the days when she was campaigning in the constituencies of her mother and brother, both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were largely out of news. It was Priyanka all the way as far as the Congress Party's national campaign was concerned. The TV channels never showed the crowds that Priyanka was addressing, they only showed the dais and her face. Her defence of her husband Robert Vadra and her attack on Narendra Modi became the most important national news. Priyanka was compared to Indira Gandhi. Many were led to believe that she rather than Rahul Gandhi should lead the Congress party and it was projected as if she and she alone had the strength to stop the juggernaut of the BJP.  (Also read: Priyanka Gandhi hits back at BJP, says party scrambling like rats)
          
Where was Priyanka all these days? Why was she confined only to two constituencies? If Priyanka Vadra is so charismatic, what is preventing Sonia Gandhi from projecting her as her successor in the Congress party instead of Rahul Gandhi who just refuses to gather steam? What is preventing the Congress party from using Priyanka Vadra in the other constituencies where elections are still to be held?  Let us try to find answers to these questions.

Robert Vadra has been under attack for some years now for his sham land deals in Haryana and elsewhere. Ashok Khemka, the IAS officer of Haryana, has been blowing the whistle about his misdeeds for some time now. Others have also spoken. I myself raised this issue in Lok Sabha on August 8, 2013.  (Also read: Finance Minister should take tips from Robert Vadra - BJP's attack in 10 points)

Of course, even before I had taken his name, I was massively interrupted by the Congress party members leading to the adjournment of the House.

Priyanka Vadra had maintained complete silence on this issue until recently. Suddenly, she jumped to her husband's defence during the election campaign. She did not challenge the facts or throw any light on them. Instead, she played the victim card and launch a counter-attack on her husband's detractors. Why has Priyanka Vadra not defended her husband with facts and figures which are in his favour all these days?

Her emotional pitch as far as the Nehru-Gandhi family is concerned is childish in the extreme. Her understanding of the Indian political situation is limited to nothing more than the tutorials she has received from the Congress party leaders. Her defence of her father represents nothing more than the sentimental feelings of a daughter for her father. But, clearly Priyanka Vadra crossed the red line when she in her retort to Narendra Modi accused him of 'Neech' politics. (Narendra Modi's 'Caste' Comeback for Priyanka's 'Neech Rajniti' Comment)

Rajiv Gandhi was one of the Prime Ministers of India. He had his failings. There is nothing in the rule book, written or unwritten, to suggest that those who have occupied high offices in the past cannot be criticised. Recall some of the most mischievous remarks which Congress party leaders have made against Atal Bihari Vajpayee who, they know, is not in a position to defend himself. But, according to the Congress party, obviously every member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, living or dead, is canonised and thus beyond the pale of criticism.

Much has happened in this election by way of mutual recrimination which was entirely avoidable. But, Priyanka Vadra's criticism of Narendra Modi and the use of the word 'Neech' will rankle in our memory for a long time to come. (Priyanka Remark Reveals 'Elitist Disdain', Says BJP)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.