It's battle of the vice-presidents in Amethi; I am ready, says Smriti

New Delhi, March 31: BJP national vice-president Smriti Irani, who was officially nominated as a Lok Sabha poll candidate from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on Monday night, said she is fully ready to take on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who is the sitting MP from the seat which has been a stronghold of the Gandhis.

Speaking to a news channel, Irani said she never entered a battlefield without being confident and that she was certain about a win over her opponents in the upcoming battle in Amethi. Besides Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Kumar Vishwas is also contesting from this seat.

Smriti Irani had contested LS poll in 2004 against Kapil Sibal but lost

Speaking about a strong opponent like Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leaders she had been a vocal member of the Parliament even if she had a much lesser stint compared to Rahul Gandhi. "I have asked 340 questions in the House as against Mr Rahul Gandhi, who hardly spoke about his own constituency's problems," Irani said. She has served as a Rajya Sabha MP since 2011.

The 37-year-old BJP also slammed the AAP and Samajwadi Party, accusing them of having understanding with the Congress. The AAP is there only for the cameras, she said.

The BJP took the decision on Irani's candidature late on Monday night in a central election committee meeting which was also attended by party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

The party also decided to field local leader Ajay Agarwal against Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli, another Gandhi bastion. Earlier, speculation was rife that senior party leader Uma Bharati could be fielded from that seat, something which Yoga guru Baba Ramdev had wished recently.

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