'Gandhi family refused to fight me in 2024, I can't keep...': Smriti Irani on her reduced attacks on Rahul Gandhi

Former union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani

Former Union minister Smriti Irani, once known for her frequent diatribe against Rahul Gandhi, now appears to have mellowed down and adopt a more conciliatory tone towards the Leader of Opposition (LoP). "Irani said it is no longer part of her designated duties to attack Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “Pehle ye mera dayitva tha. Ab nahin hai. (Earlier it was my responsibility. Now it's not)," remarked the former Amethi MP in an interview to India Today.

In one of the big electoral surprises, Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019 in his long-held Amethi constituency, said that with Gandhi opting out of contesting from Amethi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there was no political battle to engage in. “If they aren’t even stepping into the battlefield, what am I supposed to say? I can’t go chasing after them,” Smriti Irani said.

Replying to a question on Congress' decision to shift Rahul to Wayanad during the 2024 Lok Sabha contest, Irani said: "Gandhi family moved to contest from Wayanad due to its favourable social demographics.No intelligent leader willingly chooses a seat where defeat is certain,” she said. “If a seat like that is given, it’s only out of duty to the party. But in 2019, I turned the impossible into possible.”

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress fielded KL Sharma from Amethi who defeated Irani, while Rahul Gandhi won from neighbouring Rae Bareli besides Wayanad in Kerala. History shows Amethi has not been an easy seat. Senior leaders like Sharad Yadav have lost there. Even Maneka Gandhi lost from Amethi, even though she was from the family,” Irani further added.

She also spoke about the emotional toll of being removed from Amethi, calling it a place she is deeply connected with. “If I had not worked and people had said I did not deliver on my promises, that would have hurt more. But I did everything I could,” she said. When asked why she lost, Irani responded, “Because there’s a diference between work and political equations. Those who are in politics understand this – electoral politics isn’t the same as national service.”

Irani dismissed rumours that she's moving away from politics, and giving more time to acting with the return of the TV series 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' that made her a household name as central character ‘Tulsi’. “I have not moved away. But I understand I have to face more taunts since I have defeated the Congress president (Rahul Gandhi in 2019),” she said. As to why she had returned to TV acting, she laughed and chose to give what she called a “childish” answer: “Meri marzi (It's my choice)!”