When Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra filed her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll on October 23, her declaration of assets quickly became the focal point of a political storm, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused her of financial impropriety. These accusations centered on what BJP representatives claimed were discrepancies in her and her husband Robert Vadra's financial disclosures, raising pointed questions about transparency, asset accumulation, and legality. Vadra’s wealth and sources of income have long been scrutinized, casting a shadow over Priyanka's political journey and providing ammunition for her opponents.
In her affidavit, Priyanka declared a net worth of approximately Rs 12 crore, including Rs 4.24 crore in movable assets and Rs 7.74 crore in immovable properties. Among her movable assets are Rs 2.24 crore worth of investments in Franklin India Flexi Cap-Growth mutual funds, along with 4,400 grams of gold valued at Rs 1.15 crore. Other notable assets include a car gifted by Vadra and various bank deposits. Her immovable property holdings are equally significant: she owns a portion of agricultural land in Mehrauli, New Delhi, shared with her brother Rahul Gandhi, which includes a farmhouse valued at Rs 2.1 crore. Additionally, Priyanka’s Shimla property, initially purchased for Rs 1.09 crore, has seen Rs 5.05 crore in development investments and is currently valued at Rs 5.63 crore. Notably, Priyanka has liabilities of Rs 15.75 lakh due to an ongoing reassessment by the Income Tax Department for the 2012-13 financial year, adding further complexities to her financial profile.
For 2023-24, Priyanka declared an income of Rs 46.39 lakh from multiple sources, including rental income, interest from bank deposits, and returns on investments. This figure is considerably higher than Robert Vadra's declared income of Rs 15.09 lakh for the same period, prompting the BJP to question the vast disparity between the two, especially given Vadra's considerable wealth. Vadra’s net worth, at Rs 65.5 crore, is more than five times Priyanka’s. His asset composition includes Rs 37.9 crore in movable assets and Rs 27.64 crore in immovable properties. However, this extensive asset base seems inconsistent with his income levels, particularly in recent years, which has bolstered the BJP’s argument that there are underlying financial irregularities at play.
Adding to this, Vadra has faced income tax demands totaling Rs 75 crore between 2010 and 2021 due to reassessments of his tax returns. These demands, however, remain unresolved, with appeals pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals). His movable assets include a substantial share portfolio featuring holdings in companies such as Usha Martin, Infosys, Tata Power, and NIIT, as well as luxury vehicles like a Land Cruiser valued at Rs 53 lakh and a Suzuki motorcycle costing Rs 4.22 lakh. Vadra’s immovable properties, acquired for Rs 2.78 crore and further developed with an investment of Rs 3.62 crore, now hold a much higher market value, according to BJP critics. Notably, Vadra’s business interests through his company Sky Light Hospitality LLP, which holds assets valued at Rs 31.93 crore, have also drawn attention from BJP representatives, who allege these assets may not have been fully disclosed.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia accused Priyanka of filing a “confession of corruption,” arguing that discrepancies between Vadra’s declared assets and income suggest a pattern of financial concealment. Bhatia contended that Vadra’s asset portfolio does not align with his reported income, asserting that the combination of low income and high-value assets implies undeclared sources of wealth. According to Bhatia, Vadra’s net worth falls significantly short of covering the tax demands, further raising questions about the legitimacy of his financial disclosures. The BJP has gone a step further by suggesting that Priyanka’s own affidavit might understate the actual value of the Gandhi family’s wealth. For instance, Bhatia argued that the Shimla property owned by Priyanka could be worth substantially more than the Rs 5.63 crore listed in her affidavit.
In response, the Congress party has strongly refuted these allegations, dismissing them as a politically motivated smear campaign designed to shift public focus away from critical national issues. Congress spokesperson Pranav Jha accused the BJP of constructing a “false narrative” and resorting to baseless claims to discredit Priyanka and the Gandhi family. He contended that the BJP’s accusations were nothing more than an attempt to “mislead the electorate,” insisting that Priyanka’s disclosures adhere to legal standards and transparency. Robert Vadra himself responded to the allegations, asserting his innocence and maintaining that all his financial dealings are above board. He stated, “The BJP wants to digress from the main issues, hence they are raising this issue. People are aware of the truth. I have not done anything wrong and am ready to face any agency,” emphasizing his willingness to cooperate with any investigation.
The longstanding controversies surrounding Vadra’s business ventures have cast a lasting shadow over Priyanka’s political career. Allegations of improper land deals, particularly in Haryana and Rajasthan, coupled with discrepancies in financial disclosures, have made Vadra a frequent target for BJP critics and complicated Priyanka’s own public image. Observers have argued that the cloud of controversy surrounding Vadra’s financial dealings may have delayed Priyanka’s entry into electoral politics, as her family carefully assessed the potential fallout of his ongoing legal and financial challenges. Although she formally joined Congress in 2019, it has taken her nearly five years to contest an election, which many attribute to the caution exercised by the Gandhi family amid the ongoing scrutiny of Vadra’s business activities.
For Priyanka, these renewed attacks underscore a central vulnerability in her political journey, as Vadra’s financial entanglements continue to serve as an Achilles’ heel for her and the Congress. The BJP has capitalized on this by portraying the Gandhi family as mired in financial opacity, using Vadra’s business dealings as a strategic point of attack. As Priyanka embarks on her campaign for the Wayanad bypolls, Vadra’s financial controversies have once again surfaced as a potent political tool, underscoring the challenges she faces in navigating both her public role and the persistent scrutiny surrounding her family’s wealth.
