'We like Priyanka Gandhi more than Rahul' | 'Priyanka is the most charismatic in the Nehru-Gandhi clan today'

Locals in Congress party's pocket borough Rae Bareli, including Congress members, may be fond of Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul but feel it is Priyanka Vadra who has the mettle and charisma of her late grandmother Indira Gandhi and is more capable of bringing about a sea change in the country's politics.

"We like Priyanka Gandhi more than Rahul. When she gets down from her car and walks towards the people, you feel Indira Gandhi -- in her 'Ma Durga' avatar -- is standing in front of you.

"She is the real inheritor of her grandmother and her father Rajiv Gandhi's legacy.She should definitely enter politics," says Ghanshyam Pathak, a local shopkeeper who has been associated with the Congress for decades.

He recalls with fondness the days when Indira Gandhi was at the helm of affairs in the Congress.

Though the voters of these two "VIP constituencies" are loyal supporters of the first family of Congress, they feel Priyanka is the most charismatic and able in the Nehru-Gandhi clan today.

Her connect with the poor folk -- especially women -- has endeared her to the public.

Some Congress supporters feel if not from here, she can contest from any other constituency but it is time she entered politics

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Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra willing to join politics | Robert Vadra wants to join politics

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, and Priyanka Gandhi's husband,Robert Vadra has said that he was not averse to joining politics. 

"I would definitely contest if the people so desired,'' he told newspersons in Amethi, when asked whether he would be keen on joining politics. Vadra made these remarks during an informal discussion with newspersons in Amethi. 

However, Priyanka sought to downplay her husband's comments, later in the day, by suggesting he had no intention of taking up politics and appeared to blame the media. "Look, you (media) must have asked him a twisted question and then misinterpreted it. Robertji is very happy doing his business and in my opinion he must have said that he is happy with his business." 

When asked about Priyanka joining politics, Vadra said, "there is a time for everything. This is the time for Rahul. Then there will be time for Priyanka. The whole family has been with Amethi, UP and the whole country. You will see everything will happen in its own time. It is her wish." To this Priyanka remarked that media, "repeatedly asks him why he is stopping me (from entering politics), he must have answered to that." 

Also Read: Robert Vadra ties up with DLF, makes low-key entry into Real estate business

Vadra arrived in the constituency, accompanied by his daughter, on Sunday night as part of plans to drum up support for Congress candidates in the 10 assembly segments falling in the Rae-Bareli-Amethi belt. Vadra took part in a rally in Gauriganj and later addressed a gathering in the Salon assembly segment of Amethi. He emphasised that he was there to carry forward the message of his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi. 

"I have come to share and take Rahul's message to villages and every corner and you will definitely see a change," Vadra, who shot into limelight recently for his forays in the real estate business, said. 

To a question whether it was time for Rahul to become the prime minister, he said that he could not speak on the issue and that Rahul would himself reply to it. 

Congress refused to react to Vadra's remarks about joining politics. "I am not aware of this statement," said party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while responding to queries about Vadra's political ambitions. 

ET had in March last reported about Vadra's 'quiet and unheralded entry' into the real estate business. Vadra, who had started off with jewellery and handicrafts exports, had since 2008 gone in for diversification, acquiring tracts of land in Haryana and Rajasthan, a 50% stake in a leading business hotel in Delhi, and attempting an entry into the business of chartering aircraft.

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