I am not fighting for family but for party's honour: Mulayam's bahu Dimple Yadav

Dimple Yadav, the new face of Samajwadi Party is chief Mulayam Singh Yadav���s daughter-in-law and the wife of MP Akhilesh Yadav. She entered the Firozabad bypoll after her husband vacated the seat; she is now pitched against filmstar Raj Babbar of the Congress and other heavyweights. Dimple, 32, was born in Pune in an Army officer���s family and graduated in commerce from Lucknow University. She spells out her thoughts in an interview with Rustam Roy. Excerpts:

Q: Dimple, did you ever believe politics would be your calling?
A: I never thought I'll be in politics, although Akhilesh used to tell me that someday I'll have to join politics..

Q: So was the move from your side?
A: No, not all. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing and Akhilesh broke the news to me, although I had never even gone campaigning but I hoped to make a fresh start... it is actually an advantage that way...

Q: But you are a novice in politics, how will you handle big-time politics?
A: It���s not as if I don���t know anything, I am fighting the Lok Sabha election and not settling for a Rajya Sabha ticket. I have been going to meetings, roamed the streets and tried to understand the basic problem of people which is water, electricity and pension for old women...

Q: Still you are part of the dynasty...
A: I may be part of the family but I���ll have to prove myself.

Akhilesh: I told her to fight the polls this time, you see she is a mother who has several responsibilities but she still decided to roam the streets, how many people are ready to do that, tell me?

Q: What is politics to you?
A: I see it as social work, I love to help people which is what I want to do without looking at a person���s caste...it is a way to stay connected with the people.

Q: This bypoll is dubbed as a fight for family honour...
A: (Smiles) I am not fighting for family���s honour, I am fighting for my party���s honour.

Q: Dimple, now you have formally joined public life, if you were to become an MP and if you have a particular view which doesn't match with Mulayam Singh, what will be your stand?
A: (Thinks for a moment) See, Netaji has far more experience than me, he has seen it all and built this party, if a situation like that does arise, I will go with the party���s view because it is not about the individual.