Lok Sabha elections: People want me to contest from Amethi, Robert Vadra says

Robert Vadra, entrepreneur and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband, expressed his interest in joining politics. He revealed that people across the country have been urging him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, which was earlier represented by his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi.

"People want me to step into politics. Whether it's the state assembly elections or the general elections, they feel I need to enter politics. Being a member of the Gandhi family, it's very difficult to stay away from politics. There are demands coming from many places," he said in an interview with IndiaTV.

Vadra said he's ready to challenge any leader including current MP Smriti Irani from the Amethi constituency in UP, which was once a Congress bastion. He added that people are keen on seeing him in politics, regardless of the party he joins/fights from.

"Whenever I attend any political event, people from various parties say that I am delaying my entry into politics. They say that I should enter politics. They even say that if not from Congress, then join our party," the businessman said.

In another interview with news agency ANI, Vadra said that the people of Amethi are extremely disappointed with Smriti Irani.

"The people of Amethi expect me to represent their constituency if I decide to become an MP ... For years, the Gandhi family worked hard in Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur. The people of Amethi are really troubled by the current MP, they think they have made a mistake by electing her instead of Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Rahul Gandhi took over the family's political stronghold in Amethi in 2004 and was re-elected in 2009 as well as 2014. However, he lost against Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections.

Vadra added that Irani seldom pays visit to her constituency and has not taken necessary steps towards the growth and development of Amethi and safety of its people.

"Whoever represents Amethi or Rae Bareli should focus on the development of the constituency and not indulge in the politics of discrimination. All Smriti is focusing on is raising baseless questions and making allegations against the Congress party," he told ANI.

The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for Amethi. Rahul Gandhi on April 3 filed his nomination from Wayanad constituency in Kerala.

Robert Vadra's statements come amid his posters doing the rounds in social media.

"People have seen my hard work, so wherever I go, people want me to represent them. Even when I talk about south India, there is huge demand from Telangana for both Priyanka and me. My posters start appearing everywhere," he added.

According to Vadra, the public sentiment is that it is the right time and he is the right person to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).