He was also the editor of the quarterly journal
Think India. He spoke Indian and several foreign languages, and lectured in a number of foreign universities. Having become involved in politics at the age of sixteen, Tripathi became one of Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi's aides. He left the
Congress Party, however, over his opposition to
Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Party, becoming prime minister (because of her foreign origin). He joined the
Nationalist Congress Party in 1999, and reached the position of its General Secretary and chief spokesman. He was responsible for negotiating over seat-sharing in
Maharashtra. ==References==