"Congress can never come out of dynasty politics": Manjinder Sirsa on Robert Vadra showing interest in contesting from Amethi

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has lashed out at the Congress party over 'dynasty politics' amid Robert Vadra showing interest in contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Amethi.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has lashed out at the Congress party over 'dynasty politics' amid Robert Vadra showing interest in contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Amethi. Taking a strong jibe at the businessman and husband of Priyanka Gandhi, Sirsa asked who is Vadra other than the son-in-law of the Gandhi family.

Speaking to ANI, Sirsa said, "Whatever he said, one thing is very clear they (Congress) can never come out of dynastic politics. Robert Vadra said that people expect him to contest from Amethi. Who is he that people will expect from him? What certificate does he have apart from being the son-in-law of the Gandhi family?" He further said that the grand old party has "ruined" the country with dynastic politics and there are 4-5 power centres within the party.

"They can never get out of dynastic politics. That's why people are saying that today there are 4-5 power centres in the party. One is of Sonia Gandhi, one of Rahul Gandhi, one of Priyanka Gandhi, one of Mallikarjun Kharge and one of KC Venugopal," the BJP leader said. "These people have ruined this country because of nepotism and still they do not want to change themselves and want only their family to stay at the top," he added.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak also took a dig at the Congress party over Robert Vadra. 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." This comes after 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. (ANI)

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