Asked if the move was to give her more time to focus on next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, she quoted a line from a popular Hindi song: "Kuchh toh log kahenge logon ka kaam hai kehna" (people are bound to say things because it is their job to say something).
Irani, who had a successful stint as a TV actress, plunged into politics and fought unsuccessfully against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.