Priyanka scoffs at rumours about assuming role in Cong

Priyanka Gandhi on Friday dismissed media speculation over her assuming an important post in the Congress as mere “conjecture” and “baseless rumours”.

In a rare impromptu statement, Priyanka noted how “at opportune moments” such conjecture was always raked up.

Incidentally, her brother and party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s leadership has come under sharp attack from within and outside the party.

Scotching all speculation of her assuming a bigger role and post in the party, she thereby determinedly erased any possibility of her being perceived as a threat to Rahul Gandhi.

She said, “The constant conjecture about my assuming various posts in the Congress party and the manner in which this issue is brought up at opportune moments is incorrect. I would be very grateful to all concerned if they desisted from encouraging such baseless rumours.”

Of late, several Congressmen, the most recent being Jagmeet Singh Brar had suggested that both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should take a break for two years from the Congress. He was soon issued a show cause notice by the party.

Nonetheless, consistently there have been demands to bring in Priyanka Gandhi in a leadership role within the party. Gandhi family loyalist Oscar Fernandes just this week said, Priyanka should have a more active role in the Congress" and that she should take up an "important responsibility".

Asked if Priyanka Gandhi's entry would not be treated as a vote of no-confidence in Rahul Gandhi, Fernandes had said, "There is no comparison. Rahul is vice-president of the party, Sonia is president. Another member of the Gandhi family would strengthen the party."

With several state units sporadically, also clamouring for Priyanka Gandhi Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said on Thursday, “Everybody from all over India want that all members of Gandhi family should come in politics. We want that all three of them should take the leadership role in the party.”

Of late , Priyanka Gandhi had started extending her role which was limited to looking after the party affairs in Raebareli and Amethi constituencies of her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi to attending party meetings and taking care of the office at Rahul Gandhi’s residence.