After consecutive public meetings of Priyanka Gandhi, it is clear that she has a strong grip on the pulse of the people in Rajasthan. Her speech lasted for 40 to 50 minutes and connected directly with the public. She tried to keep the audience engaged and conveyed her message. The way she addressed women and youth of the state posed a significant threat to the opposition party, BJP. This is because women and youth are considered traditional voters for the BJP due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, in Rajasthan, Congress is making inroads into this voter base.
In Wednesday’s rally in Jhunjhunu, just after Dausa district, Priyanka didn’t say anything new, but it’s evident that she will continue her rallies in Rajasthan until the upcoming assembly elections, which are due next month. She is hopeful of a comeback of the Gehlot-led Congress government, given the massive crowds her rallies are attracting.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also played a big ‘trump card’ to empower women just before Priyanka’s rally. Although a promise has been made to Priyanka Gandhi, this is still seen as a significant announcement. One of the most important promises is to give 10,000 rupees annually to every housewife, which will be implemented once the government is formed. After this, in the second guarantee, more than one crore families living in 500 villages will receive gas cylinders for 500 rupees. Congress, in a way, has reached out to women and rural areas. In her speeches, Priyanka Gandhi explained the key schemes and policies of Gehlot’s government in her own way and sent a message. She criticised the centre, saying that the money is not available for pensions, but it’s there for industrialists. She tried making a direct connection of 25 lakh Chiranjivi Yojana to the treatment of the public. Chief Minister Gehlot was present alongside her, clapping with agreement.
Most importantly, while describing the discord within the BJP, Chief Minister Gehlot and Sachin Pilot joining forces, she doesn’t miss the opportunity to take a dig at the BJP’s internal disputes. Not only that but in every speech, before the start, she chants the slogans of local deities, to impress the crowd. This style resonates with the common people. The rally was organised for the unveiling of the statue of Congress veteran leader Sheesh Ram Ola, and looking at the crowd’s response, it seems that it was successful in conveying the intended message.
Priyanka remarks on PM Modi’s temple visits:
She said, “On one thing, the BJP people got so agitated that they filed a case against me. I had just said that I saw on TV – Prime Minister Ji went to the temple of Devanarayan Ji and put an envelope inside. When it was opened, only 21 rupees were found inside. Whatever work they do, it seems like Modi Ji’s envelope is empty. Women’s reservation, OBC caste census, ERCP, all these are empty promises because Modi Ji’s envelope is empty.
