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| BJP's battle of the ballot begins | | Priyanka under pressure to join UP poll drive | | NEW DELHI, MAR 21
Senior leaders of the Congress party appear divided on the desirability and usefulness of Sonia Gandhi's parliamentarian son, Rahul Gandhi, following the controversy triggered by his recent statement on the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
At a time when the BJP leaders have begun to take advantage of the far-from-calculated remark of Rahul Gandhi, many Congress leaders are for using the services of Priyanka Gandhi to campaign during the upcoming Asembly elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Although her name figures in the list of campaigners the party has submitted to the Election Commission, a final decision in this regard is yet to be taken. Priyanka, daughter of the party chief Sonia Gandhi, has so far shied away from active politics confining herself to helping her mother as a political adviser. Party circles say that using Priyanka may ensure some additional seats for the party.
But Sonia continues to be reluctant lest it takes the focus away from her parliamentarian son Rahul Gandhi, who is making his debut as the party's star campaigner. The names of Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka along with that of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh figure in the list of 40 party leaders the party has submitted.
According to the rules, every party has to submit a list of its campaigners so that the expenses incurred by them are not included in the expenses of party candidates monitored by the Election Commission.
"There is increasing pressure from individual candidates seeking Priyanka's help since they feel her presence may swing the youth and women voters in their favour", a party leader said. Priyanka, a mother of two, is seen as more charming compared to her elder brother Rahul.
The Election Commission has appointed four special observers for the first four phases of the Uttar Pradesh election. The observers are: Raymond Peter, N. Sivasilam, Sudhir Rakesh and Satyamurthy for the four phases respectively. The names were announced at a meeting of top police officials and bureaucrats of nine States bordering Uttar Pradesh.
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