Delhi's candidacy is not reward but responsibility: Bansuri Swaraj

Delhi’s candidacy is not reward but responsibility: Bansuri Swaraj

NEW DELHI: Bansuri Swaraj, the BJP’s candidate for the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat, emphasized that her candidacy is not a reward but a responsibility.

“In our party, tickets are not cut, tickets are given. It was a coincidence that I got this ticket. It is a responsibility, not a reward,” Swaraj, the daughter of late Delhi chief minister and former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, said in an interview with PTI.

Swaraj, who is one of the two female candidates who were fielded by BJP in Delhi, had credited sitting MP and Union minister Meenakashi Lekhi for her unwavering support despite being dropped by the party this time.

“If the responsibility is given to someone else, you help and guide them. I received blessings and guidance from Lekhi ji within 72 hours of getting the ticket,” she added.

Reflecting on her political journey, Swaraj highlighted her alignment with “PM Modi’s vision for Bharat” and her intention to mirror his innovative approach. Raised in a family deeply involved in politics and law, the Oxford-educated lawyer expressed her aspiration to continue both professions, seeing them as complementary.

“As women, we are wired to multitask. I would like to pursue both. I find fulfillment in being a lawyer, and I believe politics extends that fulfillment because it allows you to make a broader impact,” she explained.

As far as dynasty politics is concerned, Bansuri Swaraj said she deserves the same opportunities as anyone else.

Politics should not be forbidden for me just because my mother was a public representative, she said.

“It would have been dynasty politics had I owned the party and become its head and a top contender just after joining. But the equality of opportunity is justified for all whether it’s Sushma Swaraj’s daughter or anyone else,” she said.

Bansuri reflected on the significant investment of time and effort her parents made to nurture her potential.

“I owe everything to my mom and dad. Being their only child, I became their focus. They poured their hearts into me, giving their absolute best,” she remarked, stressing that she never felt pressured.

Acknowledging her mother’s towering legacy, Bansuri emphasized her intent not to mimic her, recognizing that it would do a disservice to her memory.

“My mother invested in me to be my own person, not a duplicate of her. She wanted me to flourish as myself,” Bansuri affirmed, humbly acknowledging that trying to fill her mother’s shoes would be futile. “There can only be one Sushma Swaraj. My aim is to uphold her legacy with honor,” she added.

Recalling her mother’s devoted presence in her life, Bansuri fondly remembered how Sushma Swaraj made it a ritual to accompany her to the school bus stop every morning and await her return every afternoon.

“She was an incredible mother, always there for me, even at school events where I played roles as simple as an orange or a tree,” Bansuri reminisced.

Sushma Swaraj, a revered figure in the BJP who served as Delhi’s chief minister and later as Minister of External Affairs, passed away in August 2019, leaving behind a profound impact on the party and the nation.

Reflecting on the origin of her name, Bansuri shared that her mother, a devout follower of Lord Krishna, believed that a ‘bansuri’ or flute was the deity’s most cherished possession.

(With inputs from agencies)

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