There was a time when Robert Vadra could do nothing right. For a decade, everything he touched turned into gold, but then came a time when the mere association of his name turned everything to dust. Just ask the Gandhi dynasty.
So, he went on to become the genial WhatsApp uncle sending good morning messages. But that was just a brief palette cleanser phase. He’s back again. In the past year, he fed lockdown-affected migrant workers, protested soaring fuel prices, and articulated his desh ki chinta.
You would think he was eyeing a political role. But his social media presence is just too garden-variety. Come to think of it, the fact that Robert Vadra’s social media handles don’t have a blue tick embodies his social media existence perfectly. He is everywhere but commands no real influence.
But that’s changing. Vadra seems to be flexing his muscles to get into politics. He maintains a relatively low profile at 70,000 followers — which is a small following for a person who is a household name in India, and married to a prominent political persona like Priyanka Gandhi.
A glance through his social media accounts will confirm that the Gandhi family’s, and his own, insistence that he is just a humble businessman is no longer true.
On his Twitter profile, you’ll find Vadra visiting temples (most recently the Moti doongri Ganesh temple in Jaipur), talking to the media about issues of the day, doing philanthropic photoshoots, and plastering his face on infographics that offer his two cents on news events. With this, he’s trying to emerge as the most ‘media-friendly’ and social media savyy person in the Gandhi clan.
Also read: What Robert Vadra’s colourful social media profile tells us about him
A politician in the making?
That fact that one of the recent creatives shared by Vadra on Twitter refers to him as ‘desh ki uthti awaaz’ (the outspoken voice of the nation) is surely no Freudian slip, but a deliberate attempt to slowly and gradually put him on the political scene. He’s also been giving some TV interviews where he can be seen opining on the issue of the day.
In early 2019, his account looked like it belonged to a serial WhatsApp forwarder, where he was busy sharing good morning messages, being a fitness influencer, sending positive vibes and wishing people birthdays. This changed in 2020 when there was a palpable shift in the tone of his social media content, as it moved from fitness posts to news interviews, and hot takes on current politics and political events.
But Vadra never takes the Modi government head-on. Except for when he furiously tweets against the establishment when Priyanka Gandhi is involved. Like the time she was roughed up by a police officer in Lucknow during anti-CAA protests in 2019, or when she was again manhandled by cops on her way to Hathras.
Also read: What we don’t know about the crisis in the Congress
Not-so TV friendly
Though he’s probably the most accessible Gandhi around right now, Robert Vadra is disastrous at giving impromptu interview bytes and could soon be deemed the king of bad optics. He recently protested the sky-high fuel prices while riding a swanky bicycle in Khan Market, while his bodyguard slowly jogged behind him and a Land Cruiser followed. This, mind you, was Vadra trying to feel ‘one with the poor’.
तेल की बढ़ती कीमतों के विरोध में अपने दफ्तर तक रॉबर्ट वाड्रा ने चलाई साइकिल।
देखिए #RobertVadra से @mausamii2u की ख़ास बातचीत #ReporterDiary
अन्य वीडियो: https://t.co/mf6keLW7vJ pic.twitter.com/vmu7A3nhpd
— AajTak (@aajtak) February 22, 2021
“I am here on a cycle because if I don’t identify with the poor, how will I fight for them?” he told India Today. “But there’s a Land Cruiser right behind you, following you, as you ride a high tech bike,” the reporter pointed out, causing Vadra stammer for a comeback. It was painful.
Another hilarious interview of his was with ANI, where Vadra was once again at a loss of words while trying to defend Rahul Gandhi’s statement about Kerala voters being more well-informed than those up North.
राहुल गांधी द्वारा उत्तर-दक्षिण पर दिए गए बयान पर रॉबर्ट वाड्रा ने कहा- राहुल ने ऐसा कुछ नहीं कहा जिससे किसी को ठेस पहुंचे, वो एक निष्पक्ष नेता हैं#RahulGandhi @irobertvadra pic.twitter.com/uDIlRqrKto
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) February 26, 2021
An inarticulate Vadra, waiting for the right words to come to him, started on a chain of thought about how diverse India and its people were, with their individual cultures and traditions — only to suddenly segue into Rahul Gandhi’s for Indians.
“Unke dil mein bohot pyar hai dene ke liye sab desh vasiyo ke liye… par Haan agar unko lagta hai, kuch logo ko, Gujarat ke 2 logo ko har cheez diya ja rahe hain…wo hain Gujarat ke hone ke. Par Gujarat ke logon se unhe bohot pyar hai,” he explained. (Rahul has lots of love in his heart for his countrymen, but he feels some people — two people from Gujarat are getting everything. They are from Gujarat, but he (Rahul) loves Gujarati poeple)
This interview is proof that physical training doesn’t necessarily make you quick on your feet, and that it’s a lot harder than it looks to be truly PR-trained.
His exclusive on Disha Ravi with News18 India was also bland, and didn’t reveal anything emphatic or headline-worthy.
#DishaRavi pic.twitter.com/EfTenfe9E2
— Robert Vadra (@irobertvadra) February 16, 2021
तेल की बढ़ती कीमतों के विरोध में अपने दफ्तर तक रॉबर्ट वाड्रा ने चलाई साइकिल।
देखिए #RobertVadra से @mausamii2u की ख़ास बातचीत #ReporterDiary
अन्य वीडियो: https://t.co/mf6keLW7vJ pic.twitter.com/vmu7A3nhpd— AajTak (@aajtak) February 22, 2021
Too vanilla
Stalking Vadra online is quite boring — he has no controversies to offer, he makes no sly comments about any politician. Even if he chooses to cycle to office to protest the criminally high petrol and diesel prices, his bytes given to the media or social media captions are barely retweet worthy. Maybe he should sit down for a class with young Congress leaders like Srivatsa or Gaurav Pandhi. The most powerful thing Vadra’s quotes do is make a person yawn.
He doesn’t even retweet or reshare anything from Congress’ official Twitter handle party, doesn’t participate in their hashtag campaigns — effectively doing almost no good for the party in increasing its social media reach. Yet, he takes such elaborate measures to create content for his own channels. However amusing this is, it speaks of his potential of becoming a politician. After all, he does seem to possess an incredible ability to make everything about himself. A disabled person gymming? Vadra is here to share the spotlight. A creative about the menace of sexual violence and efforts to generate awareness around it is incomplete without his face. A snapshot of Uttarakhand flash floods? Of course Robert Vadra is gracing the issue with his thoughts. If you thought it couldn’t get any worse, here he is along with Santa on a Christmas creative.
Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry making. Christmas has a spirit of love of our fellow men over all hatred and bitterness. It has the spirit of giving and forgiving. #MerryChristmas2019 1/2 pic.twitter.com/2q90U8a04F
— Robert Vadra (@irobertvadra) December 25, 2019
There are no excuses …
You got to wake up, get up and make the effort no matter what problems you may have ahead.
Be the motivation people around you need. You are what you make of yourself ! ??
Have a super strong day . ? pic.twitter.com/4AW3b5barV— Robert Vadra (@irobertvadra) April 7, 2020
The sassiest thing on his account was possibly a post in which he asked trolls why they are so obsessed with him — reminiscent of the iconic Mean Girls dialogue and Mariah Carey song.
If he’s looking for an entry into politics, especially as Priyanka Gandhi might just contest for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, his social media game remains too vanilla. Say something retweet and quote-tweet worthy, Mr Vadra. Rile up Right-wing trolls, get into Twitter trends, hire a social media manager!
Maybe his social media game becomes stronger once he gets a blue tick on Twitter or Instagram, or officially joins the Congress — even though Vadra has always maintained, and perhaps will always maintain, that he’s just a businessman.
Views are personal.
this news still continues to be frontline news. but no news about sachin vaze. the print made so much noice about police excesses for arresting disha ravi. here a police officer is accused of murder. but complete silence on your part.
shekarji please don’t play double standards and still claim to be fair journalist.
how long are you going to keep this as a front line news? howsoever you may try, vadra will never succeed in indian politics.
Come on print.. How far can you go with your rubbish news.. Do you really think that modern Indians will fall for all this.. Stop leaking fake gandhi boots..
Is Lutyen trying to project this damad as future of dynasyt party now ? Lutyen, leftist, dynasty sycophants always look for dynasty one after another to revive dynasty
his answers exposes his IQ wonder what his wife found in him to get involved forget getting married. A clear case of low IQ and fake sense of entitlement
Another budding “intellectual” waiting in the wings !
The Print instead of probing and exposing Robert on his land scams is just boot licking Congress for reasons best known to them.
Robert vadra is a fantastic person,He is health concern.Always looking fit n fine.Being the husband of Congress General secy, Priyanka Gandhi,he is unnecessarily haressd.Being a successful business man is not a single.Infact, somany people jealous of him.He is secular n show’s respect to every religion.He is helpful n help lots of Poor’s during Pandemic as reported.To me,he should join active politics.
Print can publish lot of hell news for their gain and loyalty.. But ppl are not fools unlike u publish any shit and convince ppl..
The fact that pages like print , wire , ndtv are still writing articles about the Gandhis gives me immense pleasure , soon ur beloved parties will score single digit in election, keep this going on .
No personal fan of Gandhis aur Modis. But man what kind of shit journalism are you peddling these days.
The Print is again proved that they are the real boot leaker of sudo liberals and Congress..
Great, now they loot India publicly.
Do they need more Loafers in khangress.
Freak
Sick chap and The Print alone will make news out of it. Print also is sick
Final action to end all credibility
Pathetic hit job pathetic journalist on bjp payroll. And by the way why is Robert vadra doing social activities is wrong.
May a publisher be eager to publish an anthology of quotes! It might meet success as a best seller on 90% discount sale.
The editors of Print were always for sale. Pls confirm how much you got to print this rubbish.
Sau choohe khaa kar billi haj karne chali
Really! You guys went through his Twitter and watch him stammering on an interview and writing a critical piece about him! When the elected prime minister of India is not giving any open interviews or press meet and no critical piece. Another dog leashed by the propaganda machine…..
The looter has already minted billions of illegal money.
As a left-congress hater reading this article gives me RW orgasm. This article gives me absolute pleasure,now i’ll share it in various tele/watsapp groups
one request to the print. you may really hate modiji. but please please don’t try to promote this fellow. as of now he is nobody. if he comes to politics god save india.
Another Pappu Ji in training.
A back-up for the main Pappu.