Earlier in the day, a party functionary had said on the condition of anonymity that the meeting was called by Rahul Gandhi that lasted for around 50 minutes and Priyanka Gandhi joined them for only five minutes at the end of the meeting.
As her attendance set off a buzz in political circles, party General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi said Priyanka Gandhi is a member of an important political family.
“May be she is not seen as participating in active politics but she is an active member of Congress for long. She has been looking after election work in Amethi and Raebareli and she is still doing that.
“She has her own opinions on political issues and she has been discussing with party workers from time to time. What is the matter of surprise if she has talked to senior leaders of the party on these issues,” she said.
Even a decade ago it was widely believed that Priyanka would take the plunge into active politics. Instead it was Rahul contested the Amethi Lok Sabha earlier held by his father late Rajiv Gandhi.
Again speculation gained currency7 after Sonia Gandhi underwent a surgery abroad in 2011 that Priyanka will contest from Rae Bareli. However, this was dismissed by the party.
The party had recently acted tough on some Congress workers, who put out posters inviting Priyanka to contest elections. They were suspended.
The slogans read, “since the mother is not keeping well and brother's burden has increased, Priyanka you become a candidate from Phulpur, campaign for the party, help Congress form the government for the third time). Phulpur was a Nehru-Gandhi family seat in past.
Responding to a question about Priyanka Gandhi's meeting with senior party leaders, Union Minister Sachin Pilot said, “she has been part of the Congress family for a long time. “As we know, she has been campaigning in Amethi and Rae Bareli as and when required and she keeps in touch with the Congress party workers in the state. So there is nothing new....”
