New Delhi: A woman scorned can be very dangerous. Well during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, there may not be just one, but three who might turn out to be nightmares for the BJP.
Three powerful women politicians may pose a big threat to the chances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi winning a second term.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the firebrand Chief Minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, and Mayawati, a former Uttar Pradesh CM may all prove to be a thorn in Modi’s rosy aspirations.
“The opposition has more powerful women leaders than the NDA, and therefore they will be able to carry conviction with voters generally, and with women voters, in particular,” said former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.
The entry of Priyanka into the political fray drew a gushing reaction from much of the Indian media. There were pictures of elated supporters dancing, a lot of talk of the 47-year-old’s resemblance to her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and her ability as a speaker able to connect with voters.
The other two women seen threatening Modi’s grip on power have tremendous experience than Priyanka, and both could be seen as potential Prime Ministerial candidates. They are BSP’s Mayawati and Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Modi remains, for now, the most popular leader in the country, opinion polls show. But then the popularity that these three women enjoy cannot just be ignored.
Congress has said it wants to form a post-poll partnership with Mayawati’s BSP and SP alliance, though it will be fighting against it in 78 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
There is however, also no formal alliance between Banerjee and Congress, though she does know Rahul and Priyanka, personally. Dinesh Trivedi, a former Union Minister, said Banerjee enjoys a good personal relationship with Sonia Gandhi, a former Congress president, and so working with her two children would not be a problem.
“In terms of experience, Mamata Banerjee is far ahead,” Trivedi said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka would look at Mamata as somebody who could really inspire them.”
The strength of Priyanka, Mayawati and Banerjee as a potential opposition alliance is that they can appeal to different parts of the electorate.
Banerjee, who defeated a 34-year-old communist government in West Bengal in an election in 2011, is known for her streetwise political skills and portrays herself as a secular leader in a country polarised under the BJP.
BSP spokesman Sudhindra Bhadoria said Mayawati’s gender did not matter. “She has built the party from scratch, she has a huge national following,” said Bhadoria.
On the other hand, Congress sources said the formal entry into politics of Priyanka has been a shot in the arm for the party.
Priyanka Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati are the three women leaders who BJP should be wary of
The three have a huge following in different part so the country, combined together it may spell danger for BJP
Agencies
