Politics: Special Series; Priyanka Vadra

Nov 1, 1999

SPECIAL SERIES

Priyanka Vadra, 27
Congress Heiress

THE CHARMER
She's the first graduate in the Nehru-Gandhi family since Jawaharlal Nehru. And perhaps that degree in psychology is coming in very handy. With the Gandhi family's hold over the Congress under some threat, and serious doubts being raised about her mother Sonia's public acceptability and political ability, the focus is now more than ever on Priyanka Vadra. "She is our brahmastra, our ultimate weapon," says Jairam Ramesh, secretary of the Congress' Economic Affairs Department.

Priyanka single-handedly won her mother Amethi. Her responsibilities have grown: she is now her mother's main adviser, speech writer and constituency manager. She also has a streak of stubbornness like her grandmother Indira and will not be pushed into a situation unless she is good and ready for it. When party leaders asked her to contest in the last elections, she refused: "I will only get involved when I'm ready for it. Nobody can get me to do something I don't want to." Shouldn't take long.

-Javed M Ansari

Top

Back