"Delighted that Priyanka has taken a step for herself," says Robert Vadra on her nomination

New Delhi: Expressing happiness over the nomination of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-elections, her husband Robert Vadra said that he is delighted that she has taken a step for herself as she has previously only thought for her family and the people of the country.

"I am delighted that Priyanka is now taking the step of thinking for herself. She will work hard for herself, and campaign for herself. I think it has been 35 years since I have known her, I have seen her always working hard for others, for her family and people of the country. She never thought for herself. But I am happy that Congress thought of making her contest from Wayanad...I think, had Rajiv ji been alive, he would have been delighted..." said Robert Vadra.

Speaking on when he plans to enter active politics, Robert Vadra said, "I always wanted Priyanka to enter the Parliament and not just campaign...As far as I am concerned, I am among the people and I serve on the ground through my charity...If people feel that I should enter active politics and come to the Parliament, then I will take that step. But right now I am happy that I am among people...Moradabad is my birthplace, and people from UP definitely want me to contest from there and represent them. But I would like to say that wherever I go, people say that I should be in politics...But there is time. When the time comes, whatever the Congress wants and whatever my family orders - I will strengthen my resolve."


Priyanka Gandhi filed her nomination on Wednesday in the presence of top leaders of the party as she embarks on her electoral debut.

She held a massive roadshow before the filing of her nomination. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other top leaders of the UDF participated in the roadshow.

The Wayanad seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year.

Congress party approved Priyanka Gandhi's candidature on October 15, after the bypoll schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India.

Wayanad will go to the polls on November 13 along with voting for bye-elections in 47 assembly seats across 15 states. The first phase of assembly polls in Jharkhand will also be held on November 13.