Her supporters see this as a virtual confirmation of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra taking the plunge into electoral politics next year.
The naming of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with her husband Robert Vadra, in a money laundering case charge-sheet by the Enforcement Directorate is being seen by her supporters as virtual confirmation of Sonia Gandhi’s daughter taking the plunge into electoral politics and making a possible debut in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Congress sources call the ED move of mentioning the couple’s name—not as accused—as the initial ground work before the elections at the behest of the Central government to tarnish their image.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the misuse of probe agencies ahead of elections is not new. “This is just the latest conspiracy,” he told The Sunday Guardian.
Priyanka supporters remain unflustered by the ED move. They cite similar ED or CBI matters being filed against Opposition leaders to threaten them. They also shared examples of similar cases against RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, KCR’s daughter K. Kavitha, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, SP leader Azam Khan, Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar and DMK leader Kathir Anand.
The ED action against the Vadras is being seen in some Congress circles as an indirect confirmation of Priyanka contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “She might contest from Uttar Pradesh or Telangana,” hinted one of her supporters.
Earlier, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, being relieved of Uttar Pradesh, was viewed by her supporters in the party as a strong indication that she could possibly contest from the state.
Meanwhile, the BJP maintained that the Central government had nothing to do with ED naming the Congress leader and her husband in its case. Party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said the ED was doing its job. “If you have bought land and sold it, where did the money come from?” he asked.
Priyanka and her husband’s name appear in the ED chargesheet in a matter related to the alleged purchase and sale of five acres of land in Haryana between 2006 and 2010. The charge-sheet was filed against C.C. Thampi, an NRI businessman, and Sumit Chadha, a British national of Indian origin. The ED believes they helped fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari—who is accused of violating the Official Secrets Act, among other laws—hide the proceeds of his crimes.