"BJP hasn't received...": UP Dy CM Brajesh Pathak takes a dig at Robert Vadra's interest in contesting from Amethi
Apr 04, 2024
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 4 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak took a dig at the Congress party over Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for showing interest in contesting from Amethi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Pathak said that the Bharatiya Janata Party has not received any application from his side, and if he will contest from Congress, it is a concern of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to ANI, Pathak said, "We have not yet received any application from Robert Vadra's side. If he has applied to the Congress Party then it is the concern of his mother-in-law, his brother-in-law. Bharatiya Janata Party has also not received any application."
Earlier in the day, Robert Vadra dropped a strong hint of contesting the upcoming general elections from Amethi, a seat that was a strong Nehru-Gandhi stronghold till 2019.
In an interview with ANI, Vadra said that the people of Amethi expect him to represent their constituency if he thinks of becoming a member of Parliament, adding that the Gandhi family has worked hard in Amethi and surrounding areas.
"They want a member of the Gandhi family to return, they will ensure the person's victory with a huge margin, they also expect that if I take my first step in politics, and think of becoming an MP, then I should represent Amethi," he said.
However, Vadra also said he wants the party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi should become MP first and he can follow her.
"I want Priyanka (Gandhi) to become an MP first and then I feel I can also come...I interact with people and there are MPs from different parties. They (MPs) ask me to come along with their party and ask me the reasons for the delay. They also assure me of their support...so different parties across the country are asking me to come along...I have friendships with a lot of people above the party lines," he said.
Congress has not yet named its candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh, where it is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with Samajwadi Party.
The Congress election committee in Uttar Pradesh had last month unanimously recommended that members of the Gandhi family should contest from Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies.