AMETHI, India, 22 January 2004 — The heirs to India’s most influential political family, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, have kicked off an election campaign for the main opposition Congress Party from their dynastic stronghold Amethi.
Their first visit together to the northern Indian constituency comes ahead of expected general elections in April and is seen as a signal of powerful political support for their mother, Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi.
Gandhi is expected to contest the polls from Amethi, where her late husband Rajiv Gandhi and mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, both former Indian prime ministers, always fought their elections.
Rahul and Priyanka went on Tuesday and yesterday from village to village in the constituency to meet voters as well as political party workers, but did not say whether they would seek election themselves.
Congress workers want both Priyanka and Rahul to fight the elections to boost the sagging fortunes of the party, which suffered losses in three of four recent state elections.
The Hindu nationalist BJP party has surged ahead of rival Congress in political showings, riding on what it says is a “feel good factor” in the country due to strong economic growth and peace with rival Pakistan.
“You will find out in two months whether it is feel good or no good,” said Rahul. His sister Priyanka said that there was “no feel good” factor at all in the country.
In contrast, the Congress is in disarray. There is private dissent about having a foreign-born leader.
It was badly trounced in three of four key state elections last month and the party’s organization and campaign machinery need an overhaul.
