LUCKNOW: Although Priyanka Gandhi is ambivalent about her entry into politics, Congress officials believe she has the political charisma to take over from her mother as party leader...Voters in Rae Bareilly said she was also more acceptable to most Indians than her Italian-born mother, as she was not considered to be a foreigner...The Hindu nationalist BJP, which dominates the governing coalition, has made Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins a campaign issue. ``Do I look like a foreigner to you?'' Priyanka asked electors in Rae Bareilly as her mile-long motorcade wound its way through the rural constituency. Scores of people rushed out of their homes to bless their beti (daughter) and shower her with flowers.

A Congress leader speculated that if Sonia wins both her parliamentary seats -- besides Amethi she is also contesting Bellary in the south -- it is likely that she will relinquish the former and ``bequeath'' it to her daughter. Thereafter, Priyanka wouldwin Amethi in a by-election and assume control of the party from her mother, he added. ``The Congress needs someone from the Nehru-Gandhi family to lead them and the voters need someone from the dynasty to hero worship,'' an official in Lucknow said.