Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s Name Rises as Potential PM, Sparks Debate in Congress

Robert Vadra backed growing calls within Congress for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to take a larger role, even as BJP leaders claimed the party was split between camps loyal to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. The row followed Congress MP Imran Masood pitching Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the party’s Prime Ministerial face and drawing sharp political reactions.

Vadra, who is married to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, responded to Masood’s comments by stressing that public attention should remain on people’s day-to-day problems. At the same time, Vadra acknowledged persistent appeals for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and even for Vadra, to enter active politics, feeding speculation about internal debates in the party leadership.

Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress PM face debate

Reacting to Congress MP Imran Masood's pitch to make Priyanka Gandhi Vadra the PM face of the party, her husband, Robert Vadra, said that "there are demands from everywhere". "There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should come forward. There are also demands that I should enter politics. But right now, we should focus on the real issues that concern the people," he said.

Masood on Tuesday said that if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were made the Prime Minister, she would give a strong response like her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Speaking to ANI, Imran Masood said, "… Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is Priyanka Gandhi. She has Gandhi added behind her name. She is the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven't healed. Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate. You won't dare to do that."

When asked what it would mean for Priyanka's brother and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Masood said, "Rahul Gandhi will act too, they are not separate. Rahul and Priyanka are like two eyes on the same face, the grandchildren of Indira Gandhi." As the statement caused an uproar, Masood later said, "The BJP has nothing else to talk about…Rahul Gandhi is my and Priyanka Gandhi's neta…I only said she is second Indira Gandhi…I said both of them are her eyes…If the command would have been in her hands, this would not have happened in Bangladesh. We have no infighting…Rahul Gandhi is our leader."

Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and BJP reaction

Meanwhile, addressing students at the Hertie School in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is proposing "elimination of the Constitution" that grants equal rights to all and vowed to create a system of opposition's resistance that will succeed in removing the party from power. His remarks triggered a fresh counter-attack from the BJP leadership in India.

Reacting to Rahul's statements, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "Rahul Gandhi has indulged in 'Bharat badnaami' on foreign soil, there's nothing new in it…Rahul Gandhi should now rename the LoP position, not as Leader of Opposition, but as Leader of Propaganda, because going on foreign soil, meeting with anti-India elements, meeting with elements associated with George Soros, who wants to destabilise India, and then spewing fakery and propaganda against India has become the full-time job of Rahul Gandhi." Poonawalla, later in a press conference, said, "Rahul only insults India…which is why Imran Masood, Shashi Tharoor and many from Priyanka Gandhi's camp are against him. The allies of Congress party have already spoken against Rahul Gandhi…This is the country's no-confidence vote against him…Janmat is against him, and now even Janpath is against him."

Delhi: On Congress MP Imran Masood pitching Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the PM face, businessman and her husband Robert Vadra says, "There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should come forward. There are also demands that I should enter politics. But right now,… pic.twitter.com/6fzuryP4Dg— IANS (@ians_india) December 23, 2025

Another BJP leader, Pradip Bhandari, framed the developments as a visible internal clash. Pradip Bhandari, national spokesperson of the BJP, said on X, "Open fight between Rahul and Priyanka camp in Congress…Divide in Congress out in the open…Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi's open dissent against Rahul Gandhi…Open fight in the family!" The BJP projected these claims as proof of strain within the Congress leadership.