Priyanka in poll gear at Amethi

NEW DELHI: Even before the heat anddust generated by the Congress Shimla conclave could settle down, PriyankaGandhi once again landed in Amethi on Thursday. She met poorpeasants and landless labourers cutting across caste lines, apart gauging theconfidence level of her party activists, who had of late been at the receivingend of the Mayawati establishment. Priyanka''s Amethi visit isconsidered politically significant for three reasons. First, there is littledoubt that she has plunged into politics fully and finally. Second, the motherand daughter are working in perfect tandem, putting to rest all speculationregarding Sonia Gandhi''s illogical but natural preference for the son, and notthe daughter, joining active politics. And third, both mother and daughter seemto be more or less convinced that the general elections might be held earlierthan schedule.If reports emanating from Amethi are to be taken attheir face value, Priyanka is already in election mode. In one of the meetingsin Amethi''s rural outskirt, she refused to sit on the dais that was speciallyerected for her. Instead, she sat on a charpoy in the midst of the audience andtalked to them like a fellow peasant. Congress UP chief JagdambikaPal and his spokesman, Akhilesh Singh, expressed the hope that Priyanka wouldsoon be active all over the state. ``The home state of the Nehru-Gandhis needsher at this crucial juncture when our party is preparing to recapture power atthe Centre'''', Pal said. In an unrelated but significant development,former U.P. chief minister Kalyan Singh welcomed the new, open door policy ofthe Congress. He also made it a point to voice his view that Priyanka has thepotential to do a world of good to the depressed fortunes of the Congress. ``TheBJP misrule will come to an end sooner than expected'''', he said.