After Karnataka, how Priyanka Gandhi delivered Telangana for Congress | Analysis

“...You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.”

And ‘Indiramma's’ granddaughter just followed what she had said years ago.

Buoyed by the confidence of successfully leading Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh to victories, Priyanka Gandhi got it right in India's newest state, Telangana, as well.

The Congress general secretary struck all right cords when she invoked the victory in the neighbouring state, when she wooed women voters, when she claimed that there was nexus between BJP, BRS and the AIMIM.

She emerged as the figurehead in Congress' fight in Telangana where K Chandrashekhar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi had a comparatively stronger foothold until six months back. It was her result-yielding lead role in Karnataka that allowed the Telugu people to instill their confidence in her familiarity.

When the grand old party's campaign had hit a roadblock in Karnataka after Rahul Gandhi's disqualification following his conviction in a defamation case, it was Priyanka who had brought the party back on track.

A senior leader from Congress had described Priyanka's political skills saying, "She doesn't like addressing people from a distance. She doesn't like to be restricted and she is at her best when left amidst women."

And rightly so! Whether it be increasing the involvement of women in the organisational set-up or her folk dance performances or getting down from her vehicle to join women on tractors or exhibiting her caring self when facing women in trouble, with her beaming smile she has won the admiration of women voters across the states.

It was not just her endearing persona that Telangana banked upon but also her scathing attacks on the rival parties that resonated with the people of the state. From discarding KCR's claims of ‘Bangaru Telangana’ to raising the issues of ‘land, sand, wine and mine mafias’, Priyanka drove the narrative in Telangana that became a new state when the United Progressive Alliance was in the centre in 2014.

Apart from her political deftness, her resemblance to her grandmother Indira Gandhi rang a bell. In May, Priyanka had said, "You are calling me the new Indiramma, then trust me. I will not make false promises."

Result showed her appeal stuck with locals when they voted on November 30.