Priyanka may begin political innings with Kumbh holy dip on February 4

Sonia Gandhi, as the president of the Congress party, had taken a holy dip at Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela, in 2001. Her decision to take a holy dip at Khumbh was reportedly influenced by inputs from Digvijaya Singh, M L Fotedar and Suresh Pachauri who had set up her meeting with Dwarkapeeth Shakaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, an old friend of the Congress and a bitter critic of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

File picture: AFP

New Delhi: Following footsteps of Rahul Gandhi, sister Priyanka is also likely to toe the ‘soft Hindutva’ line by commencing her formal political career with a holy dip in the Ganga at the Kumbh Mela on February 4. The Gandhi scion was recently appointed the General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh East and would be accompanied to the Kumbh by Rahul. The duo will take the holy dip on February 4 post which they will hold a press conference in Lucknow. According to sources of news agency IANS, the Gandhis have zeroed in on February 4 for the holy dip on the occasion of "Mauni Amavasya" and the second "Shahi Snan". But if they don't get a chance to take a holy dip on February 4, they will opt for February 10 on the occasion of Basant Panchami and the 3rd ‘Shahi Snan". Sonia Gandhi, as the president of the Congress party, had taken a holy dip at Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela, in 2001. Her decision to take a holy dip at Khumbh was reportedly influenced by inputs from Digvijaya Singh, M L Fotedar and Suresh Pachauri who had set up her meeting with Dwarkapeeth Shakaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, an old friend of the Congress and a bitter critic of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Accused incessantly for pandering to the minorities, Rahul had to an extent given a scare to the ruling BJP, by embarking on multiple temple visits during previous state elections. The Congress was also forced to claim that he was a 'janeu dhari' Hindu. While he was on a temple spree in Rajasthan, Gandhi revealed his 'gotra' as 'Dattatreya' -- and later introduced himself as Kaul Brahmin of Dattatreya gotra. The BJP has been maintaining that Priyanka’s entry into active politics would have no bearings on the outcome of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and is dubbing it as an extension of the "political dynasty" culture in the party.