After the rout, Priyanka quietly chips in

Demands that Priyanka play a larger role in reviving the fortunes of the 129-year-old party are growing.

A week after the Congress’s catastrophic defeat, Priyanka Vadra is said to have plunged quietly into her brother’s recovery efforts for their party, attending strategy sessions to chart the future.

Sources said Priyanka was present at a meeting Rahul Gandhi called to assess the Congress’s showing among Dalit voters at Jawahar Bhavan earlier this week. Despite Rahul’s aggressive outreach, Dalits have been cold to the party. Sources said the Congress’s SC departments in nearly all states could be reconstituted.

Congress SC department chairman K Raju, an IAS officer whom Rahul brought into the organisation, denied the meeting took place, but confirmed that the department was working on a comprehensive five-year plan to make inroads into the Dalit vote.

“We are discussing and debating. We are sourcing data to find out the voting pattern among the various castes. We have also sought feedback internally. All this will go into the revival plan the Congress is preparing,” Raju told The Indian Express.

Demands that Priyanka play a larger role in reviving the fortunes of the 129-year-old party are growing.

Outgoing food minister K V Thomas said on Friday that along with every Congressman, he too wished that she should come to the “main arena”, and work with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul as a team.

Thomas has argued that people see Indira Gandhi in Priyanka; his colleague Pallam Raju has said that she has a natural ability to connect with people.

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At the AICC briefing, general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said the party could not force Priyanka to take up active politics. “Do not ask us to take a decision on her behalf,” he said, even as he pointed out that “her public meetings in Amethi and Rae Bareli had attracted national and international media attention”, which was “a pleasant thing”.

Manoj C.G

Manoj C G currently serves as the Chief of National Political Bureau at The Indian Express. A veteran journalist with a career spanning nearly two decades, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication's coverage of India's political landscape. Experience & Career: Manoj has built a robust career in political journalism, marked by a transition from wire service reporting to in-depth newspaper analysis. The Indian Express (2008 – Present): He joined the organization in 2008 and has risen to lead the National Political Bureau, overseeing key political coverage. Press Trust of India (PTI): Prior to his tenure at The Indian Express, Manoj worked with India’s premier news agency, PTI, honing his skills in breaking news and accurate reporting. Expertise & Focus Areas: As a seasoned political observer, Manoj focuses on the nuances of governance and party dynamics. National Politics: extensive reporting on the central government, parliamentary affairs, and national elections. Political Strategy: Deep analysis of party structures, coalition politics, and the shifting ideologies within the Indian political spectrum. Bureau Leadership: directing a team of reporters to cover the most critical developments in the nation's capital. Authoritativeness & Trust: Manoj’s authoritativeness is grounded in his nearly 20 years of field experience and his leadership role at a legacy newspaper. His long-standing association with The Indian Express underscores a reputation for consistency, editorial integrity, and rigorous reporting standards required of a Bureau Chief. Find all stories by Manoj C G here. ... Read More

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