Priyanka Gandhi in party meetings not new: Shinde

New Delhi: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday sought to downplay the participation of Priyanka Gandhi in a Congress party meeting recently, saying this was "not new." "This is not new. She has been doing it...Attending party meetings. She is a part of Congress party, she is a leader of Congress party," Shinde told reporters here.

Shinde said that during 1998-99, he and Priyanka used to tour together in constituencies and also for the campaign of Congress President and her mother Sonia Gandhi. Priyanka had created a flutter when she attended a meeting of top Congress leaders in the residence of her brother Rahul Gandhi, triggering speculation whether she is in for a major role ahead of Lok Sabha elections.