Robert Vadra hints at running from Amethi; takes a swipe at Smriti Irani

Even as suspense hangs over the Congress’ pick of candidate for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, once a bastion of the Gandhi family, Robert Vadra, the husband of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has hinted at contesting from the constituency.

“...the people of Amethi expect me to represent their constituency if I decide to become a member of Parliament......," Vadra told reporters.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who lost the seat to BJP’s Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, was earlier speculated to run from the constituency along with Wayanad.

Irani on multiple occasions has dared Rahul to contest from the seat alone to prove his mettle.

Taking a jibe at her, Vadra said, “the person who was elected last time is only concerned with attacking the Gandhi family, and not with ensuring the development of the area and well-being of its people.”

“For years…the Gandhi family worked hard in Rae Bareli (the Congress’ other Uttar Pradesh stronghold, which was won by Sonia Gandhi in 2019), Sultanpur, and Amethi. But now people of Amethi are troubled by the current member of Parliament, they think they have made a mistake by electing her,” he said.

“When the people of Amethi feel they have made a mistake, when they feel they want the Gandhi family to come back or if they want me…then they will give a big win to the Congress,” he added.

Vadra in 2022 had made a similar claim about his willingness to join electoral politics if backed by voters.

In 2019, he had said he would not join politics until the charges against him in a corruption case are cleared.

The Congress has so far declared candidates for 14 of the 17 seats it will contest in Uttar Pradesh. Its ally Samajwadi Party will contest the rest 63 of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats of the state.

The Congress, however, has not named the candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli.