Priyanka Gandhi will pose strong challenge to PM Narendra Modi, says Robert Vadra

NEW DELHI: Amid intense speculation that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, her husband Robert Vadra said the AICC general secretary was a hardworking person in which people saw an agent of change.

Speaking to reporters, Vadra replied in affirmative when asked if Priyanka would be a good candidate against Modi. “She will work hard. People want change and they see it in her and Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

Asked if she would pose a strong challenge to Modi, Vadra said, “Of course.”

The comments from a member of the Gandhi family are set to further stoke speculation that Congress is looking to make Varanasi into a “Priyanka vs Modi” contest. While there is no confirmation yet about the possibility, many believe it can happen if SP and BSP, the principal anti-BJP parties in UP, agree to back Priyanka as a common candidate.

The idea behind any such move would be to raise the threat of challenge to Modi in Varanasi to try tying him down to the constituency.

The talk about Priyanka contesting from Varanasi started when the Congress leader herself made a remark during an interaction with party workers in Rae Bareli. When a worker urged her to contest the Lok Sabha polls, she said, “How about fighting from Varanasi.” Asked how he saw the ongoing elections and their outcome, Vadra said, “The results would be in our favour, for change. Everybody is angry and looking for change. It is the need of the country.”