'Nothing casual about Priyanka Gandhi's casual remark'

India: Priyanka Vadra's remark that she was willing to campaign all over Uttar Pradesh to help her brother Rahul if he so wished looked as if it was casually said.

But there was nothing casual about it. For, Priyanka - who has so far confined herself to Amethi and Rae Bareli, the constituencies of her brother and mother Sonia Gandhi - was expressing her willingness, for the first time, to campaign all over the state.

Her words cannot but be part of a calibrated strategy that has been put into motion for UP. Hypothetically speaking, if Rahul does not take up her offer, his opponents will talk about a rift between brother and sister. Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni has also endorsed the idea. That would not have been the case, had the idea not been endorsed by Sonia.

The way Priyanka articulated her offer, it was clear that she was not jumping into active politics, but was only going to campaign to help her brother. She is a Brahmastra the party was expected to keep up its sleeve for full play only in 2014. But now, she may come in, in a limited sort of way, given the high stakes that exist for Rahul, who has decided to lead the campaign in UP, putting his personal prestige on stake.

The 2012 semi-finals, as the UP elections are being billed, may therefore get a foretaste of things to come in 2014. Priyanka's entry will electrify the campaign in UP, which has historically determined the road to Delhi. AFP