Robert Vadra wants Priyanka Gandhi to join politics

NEW DELHI: Even as Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi finds himself in the middle of a hectic campaign to improve his party's position in Uttar Pradesh, his brother-in-law Robert Vadra sought to queer his pitch by backing the case for his wife Priyanka's entry into active politics.

Vadra, who hogged the limelight after incurring the Amethi district polling officer's wrath for leading an unauthorised motorcycle rally early this month, has so far maintained a very cautious stance on the question of his wife's advent into politics, lest this be construed as part of an attempt to put roadblocks in Rahul's efforts to occupy the centrestage of politics.

However, in an interview to a TV news channel on Friday, Vadra made a strong pitch for his wife's debut in active politics.

"'Certainly," was Robert Vadra's reply when asked whether his wife Priyanka should take a plunge in politics. But he qualified his statement by saying that this was his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi's time.

As for Priyanka's entry, it will be, he added, decided in keeping with the "'time and need". He took the same line when asked about the possibility of him taking the plunge.

Vadra had earlier insisted he had no plans to join politics "for the moment", and defined his role as someone who keeps "middlemen" away from the family and gives them "first-hand information" about what people are looking for.

On the possibility of wife Priyanka joining active politics, Vadra had earlier said that she had "a lot of potential and has to serve the people of India", but it is up to her to decide what she wants and when.

Earlier, Priyanka's husband has indicated he was not averse to joining politics, saying he will fight elections if people desired. "I would definitely contest if the people so desired," Vadra said.