Priyanka Gandhi is a game changer, says Salman Khurshid

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid hinted that Priyanka Gandhi, sister of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, should take up bigger role in the party ahead of 2019 general elections.

In an interview to Dainik Bhaskar newspaper, Salman Khurshid has said that Priyanka Gandhi is a game changer as she has a big role behind the curtain. He also said that with the allegations on Congress of Muslim appeasement, the party slumped to just 44 seats from 206 in 2009.

According to reports, Khurshid's statement does indicate at a slight loss of faith from the leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi has been behind the curtain in Raebareli and Amethi but it was not a large role, as is being hinted at by Khurshid.

In response to Khurshid's statement, Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said ther was nothing to speculate Priyanka Gandhi's role in the party.

Singhvi said, " It suggests that Priyanka Gandhi plays very important role in the roles she chooses to take up. It is her choice and decision. He has not said that she is standing for elections, there is nothing to speculate."

There has been a strong demand that Priyanka Gandhi be given a formal role in the party. The Gandhi family has repeatedly avoided the issue. In fact, Priyanka has restricted herself to the Gandhi family bastions of Amethi and Rae Barelli.