Former Congress MP Priya Dutt on Monday, 7 January, announced that she would not be contesting the 2019 elections on account of personal reasons.
Dutt, who is the daughter of veteran actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt and sister of Sanjay Dutt, entered politics in 2005, when she was first elected to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket. She won from the same constituency in 2009, but in 2014, lost it to BJP's Poonam Mahajan, when the Congress-NCP combine lost all seats in Mumbai.
In a press statement that was accessed by The Quint, Dutt explained the many reasons why she believed it was time for her to take a break from the world of politics. She also said that she had notified Congress President Rahul Gandhi of her decision, several months ago.
“I never envisioned myself only being a politician or owning the permanent right to be the only INC contestant from the North Central Mumbai Parliamentary constituency. This constituency never belonged to my father, to me, or for that matter to any one person; it belongs to the people who make it. We come in and are chosen by the people as caretakers and must give opportunity for fresh and new ideas.”Priya Dutt
To Dutt, working in politics is a 24/7 job – something which, she claimed, had begun to take a toll on her personal life.
“These past years have been exciting and enlightening for me. Everyday, I learned something new. However, I struggled to keep a balance between my personal and political life. While I did my best, and managed, it took a toll on many aspects of my life. The juggling is not easy in this profession.”Priya Dutt
Dutt also mentioned that although she had had many “disagreements” with other Congress party members, her reasons were never personal and that she was only “representing what was best for the party”.
Asking all her constituents to “vote discerningly”, she implored that they don’t judge all politicians on the basis of the misdeeds of a few and that they would see more honest and hard-working politicians, if they voted for the right candidate.
Dutt clarified that her role in serving the country would not end, with her break from politics. She said she would continue public service through the medium of the Nargis Dutt Foundation, which she called the “true legacy” of her parents.
“I am carrying forth that legacy to the best of my ability. We will continue to reach every corner of India to make a difference in providing health care and education and will work with the governments to do so.”Priya Dutt
Dutt also expressed her admiration for Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, who she said had inspired her to be in active politics and party leader Rahul Gandhi, who she called a “good human being and compassionate leader”.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)