New Delhi: While she might not be a Congress member officially, but Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has started to play an active role in the internal and external affairs of the party. Priyanka, as per a report in leading English daily, last week held talks with representatives of the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board (AIUMB) in Rae Bareli – her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency.
The report quoted party sources as saying that Priyanka held talks with AIUMB national general secretary Babar Ashraf on April 22. Ashraf is believed to have raised the concerns and demands of Sunni Muslims in his talks with Priyanka. AIUMB represents Sunni Muslims and has considerable presence in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
The highlight of the meeting was that fact that only Priyanka was present at the meeting – neither Sonia not her brother Rahul Gandhi, the party’s face in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, were present during the talks. The development indicates Priyanka’s expanding role in the party.
An AIUMB member told the daily that their meeting with Priyanka was satisfactory and that she had assured to look into the community’s concerns. The report further claims that after the meeting, AIUMB has decided to back the Congress in Amethi and Rae Bareli in the 2014 polls.
Bureau Report
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