Priyanka Gandhi's attacks have unnerved Narendra Modi: Congress leaders

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's pointed campaign against Narendra Modi has unnerved the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, energised Congress workers and created a resonance among people that will benefit the party, Congress leaders said Monday.

Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party were "scurrying for cover" due to the reasonance of the political campaign and energy being generated by Priyanka Gandhi in Rae Bareli and Amethi.

He said the message was spreading as the electronic media was taking it to people across the country.

"Modi is personally unnerved. He and his strategists are totally frustrated, leading to the dirty tricks department (of the BJP) rehashing old allegations (against Robert Vadra)," Surjewala told IANS.

Surjewala said the allegations against Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, had been rejected conclusively by courts earlier.

"Every investigation conducted has found the allegations malicious," he said.

Asked if Priyanka Gandhi should have started campaigning in Rae Bareli and Amethi earlier, Surjewala said only she can decide on the choice and timing of her campaign.

He said Priyanka Gandhi has restricted her campaign to Rae Bareli - represented by her mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Amethi - represented by her brother and party vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Former party secretary Anees Durrani said the attacks by Priyanka on the BJP and Modi were creating enthusiasm among Congress workers.

"It will create an impact in the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha election," he said.

A Congress leader said Priyanka Gandhi had natural charm and delivers her lines with ease and comfort.

"She speaks less but is very pointed. Her words have a punch," said the party leader, who did not want to be named.

Another party functionary said he was receiving feedback from workers in various parts of the country that Priyanka Gandhi should have launched her campaign earlier.

"They say Priyanka should have been in the forefront of the campaign right from the beginning," he said.

Priyanka Gandhi had Sunday come out all guns blazing against the BJP after it released a video targeting her husband over property deals.

She had said the BJP was running like "panic-stricken rats" and she will not be intimidated by their "lies".

She also targeted Modi over his "56-inch chest" remark, saying the BJP represented a kind of politics that aimed at concentrating power in one person.

Congress leaders said they were not aware of any programme of Priyanka Gandhi to visit a temple in Varanasi but did not rule it out.

"As a free citizen, she can go anywhere," a party leader said.

Modi is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi and Vadodara.