From Apple to AAP, from a crore-plus annual salary to a job that promises no steady income, from deep pile

carpets in corporate offices to an outfit that takes pride in brooms - that would be unusual enough. But Adarsh Shastri (40), who joined Aam Aadmi Party on Friday, is not just any corporate high-flyer he's the grandson of former Indian prime minister, late Lal Bahadur Shastri, and the son of Congress leader Anil Shastri. This family pedigree - Congress is supporting Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi assembly but is also a bitter political rival - makes Adarsh a particularly attractive and high-profile recruit for AAP. But the former PM's grandson isn't looking at his new role that way. Adarsh, who was head of sales for Apple in western India and working out of Mumbai, says his decision is based on personal conviction. "I had a cushy life with a great company. But somehow it did not feel right. I was inspired by Arvind (Kejriwal) and felt compelled to do more," Adarsh told ET. He quit his Apple job in the first week of December, and says he first got interested in AAP about seven eight months ago. "Kejriwal's conviction impressed me," he said. But what did Adarsh tell his father, a long-time Congressman? "I told him I don't fit in with Congress culture," Adarsh said, and added that he has his father's "blessings". "I have been talking to my parents about this for the past two to three months. I told them about my decision to finally join AAP a few days ago. My father said I should go ahead with it if I feel this is my life's calling," he said. When contacted by ET, Anil Shastri said: "I have three sons and none of them had any political inclination. Maybe AAP changed the way he (Adarsh) thinks. Personally, I would have wanted him to join Congress, but he is an adult and he has the right to make his own decisions." And what about money, ET asked Adarsh, whose family of four includes 9-year-old twin boys? He said he will start a small telecom company and make that his principal source of income. But money's not that important when you do something you love, Adarsh said. AAP hasn't assigned a specific role to Adarsh yet. He says he's ready for any role, anywhere in the country. Contesting in Lok Sabha elections? Sure, if the party wants me to, said Adarsh. "I have put my experience on the table. I have spent over 15 years in the telecom sector and my area of expertise is quite evident to the party. I am willing to take up any role, including contesting elections," he said. Adarsh's had campaigned for his father in 1989, 1991 and 1996 for Varanasi, Allahabad and Indore seats,.