When asked who she would pick, between Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, to contest against her in Amethi, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani quipped, "How do you pick between two bad apples." Irani was speaking on the second and final day of the ThinkEdu Conclave. She was in conversation with TNIE Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla and Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.
Although she did not confirm if she will contest from Amethi, saying it was a decision for party president Amit Shah, she was confident of a BJP win in the Gandhi stronghold. "No matter who runs in that ticket from the Congress party, the BJP will win," she said exuding confidence.
Irani, had in 2014, contested against Rahul in Amethi but lost by a narrow margin of around one lakh votes. However, she said that she had since worked 'diligently' for the development of Amethi, despite the mandate going against her. "Students in India are taught that God is in the details. I have looked at the God in those details for the last five years, despite losing," she said and added, "I've worked diligently in 890 Gram Panchayats. I intend on doing my job and as for the rest, I'm sure the fruits of development are reaching Amethi," she added.
However, when Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director of The New Indian Express, during the closing banter, said that he knew the BJP probably hated the Gandhis, Irani clarified, "Hate is too strong a word - politically or otherwise."
