Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi share the same stature in the Congress and the party needs both of them, Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary told a press conference here on Thursday.
“There is no difference between the two. Both are equally important to the party. People outside the party are fuelling speculations. If the All India Congress Committee decides that Priyanka Gandhi should campaign, then she will have to,” Mr. Choudhary said in response to a question on the speculation that Priyanka is likely to assume a greater role ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Asked if he would invite her to the State for campaigning, Mr. Choudhary said the high command would decide on the issue.
He criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party for sparking off a controversy around President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the State. Following the request by the State BJP, Mr. Mukherjee cut short his visit by a day to avoid a clash with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hunkar’ rally in Patna.
Accusing the BJP of being anti-Dalit, Mr. Choudhary said: “Two BJP presidents Bangaru Laxman and Nitin Gadkari were embroiled in corruption charges. Both had to resign from their posts. But the BJP has rehabilitated Mr. Gadkari in the party, but has not done so Mr. Laxman [a Dalit]. This exposes their anti-Dalit face.”
On the issue of alliance in Bihar, the Congress leader said while all the regional parties were eager to join hands with the Congress, the party was assessing the situation.
