She calls it her second innings, but agrees that people are noticing her for the first time in a prominent party post. Smriti Irani in an exclusive interview to MiD DAY, after being appointed a secretary in the BJP, talks about her modest beginning and future goalsu00a0

During the last elections you projected yourself as the Desi Bahu of the country against the Videshi Bahu, Sonia Gandhi. Are you planning to raise the Videshi Bahu issue again?
(Laughs) I never created that image of Desi Bahu versus Videshi Bahu. It was a creation of the media and it suited them. I think nothing is bigger than the interest of the nation, and petty issues must not be allowed to overshadow the more important goals. A few days ago, when the government was trying to get the Women's Bill passed through the Rajya Sabha, but didn't have the numbers, the BJP supported the move. Now another big issue is inflation which is rising at an alarming rate. We need to concentrate on that rather than raising petty issues.

How do you plan to strike a balance between your political life and your professional life? Do you think that now the former will have to take precedence over the latter?
This is my second term. Not many people knew the fact, when I was actively involved with the party office in Maharashtra. But this time it has come under the limelight. But I accept that now my political life would need more attention than my professional life. But I can't leave the latter as people have expectations from me in that sphere also.