What Impact Will Priyanka Gandhi's Mahila Samwad Have in Motihari?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Priyanka Gandhi aims to empower women in Bihar through the Mahila Samwad.
- The BJP questions her impact based on past performance.
- Strategically significant rally in a BJP stronghold.
- Focus on unity among opposition for upcoming elections.
- The event follows a significant voter rights campaign.
New Delhi, Sep 25 (NationPress) As Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra prepares to launch her election campaign in Bihar with a 'Mahila Samwad' in Motihari, the BJP has raised doubts about the effectiveness of her visit, invoking her previous electoral performance in Uttar Pradesh.
In an interview with IANS, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain remarked, "Priyanka Gandhi campaigned vigorously in Uttar Pradesh with slogans like 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon'. Despite holding 'Khatiya Rallies' with strategist Prashant Kishor, she failed to secure any seats. What impact will her visit have in Bihar?"
Bihar Cabinet Minister Nitin Nabin also took a swipe, stating, "Priyanka Gandhi should first hold her own alliance accountable. Leaders from Congress and RJD have shown disrespect towards women, including mothers, in Bihar. As a female leader, if she couldn't voice her concerns then, what moral authority does she possess to advocate for Bihar’s women now?"
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal welcomed her visit with sarcasm. "It's good she's coming. She will see for herself how much Bihar has advanced. Under Congress rule, traffic chaos was prevalent. Now, with new flyovers and infrastructure, she will witness true development. A tour of Patna would be beneficial for her," he told IANS.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders defended Priyanka Gandhi. Congress MLA Neetu Kumari countered the criticism, asserting, "The Congress has consistently championed women’s rights. Through Mahila Samwad, women will have the chance to directly share their challenges with Priyanka Gandhi. This isn't merely a rally; it’s a platform for empowerment."
Priyanka Gandhi's rally in Motihari, set for September 26, signifies the official launch of the Congress campaign for the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The event holds strategic importance as it occurs in Champaran, a BJP bastion, shortly after the Congress Working Committee meeting in Patna, indicating a determined electoral strategy by the party.
This development takes place as the Mahagathbandhan, which encompasses Congress, RJD, and Left parties, discusses seat-sharing agreements ahead of the critical contest later this year.
During the 2020 Assembly elections, the alliance was unable to secure a majority, with many analysts attributing the defeat to Congress’s lackluster performance.
Priyanka Gandhi's rally follows the party's recent 14-day, 1,300-km-long Voter Adhikar Yatra, aimed at protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by the Election Commission in Bihar.