Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to announce the candidates for the two seats today.
Congress is set to announce its Candidates for Amethi and Raebareli today.
New Delhi: The suspense over the Congress’s candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh is set to end, just one day before the nomination deadline. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to announce the candidates for the two seats today, marking the culmination of the anticipation.
There has been widespread speculation regarding the candidature of former party president Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for Amethi and Raebareli, respectively. Rahul Gandhi, who faced an unexpected defeat in Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani in 2019, is anticipated to contest from there again, potentially alongside his current constituency, Kerala’s Wayanad.
In Raebareli, which has been held by Sonia Gandhi since 2004, the entry of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra into electoral politics is anticipated. However, internal discussions within the party indicate a reluctance towards fielding all three Gandhi family members in parliament. This hesitation stems from concerns over the “dynastic politics” criticism that the party frequently faces from the BJP.
Despite the delay in the announcement, Congress leaders reassured on Wednesday that the party remains undeterred. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh stated that there is no cause for concern, and discussions are ongoing. With the last date for nominations being tomorrow (May 3), the party is actively addressing the situation.
“The Gandhi family is very popular and lakhs of people are coming to their public meetings. The decision has been now left to the CEC,” Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said.
The Amethi constituency has long been synonymous with the political legacy of the Gandhi family, symbolized by Rahul Gandhi’s representation since 2004 until his defeat in 2019. Similarly, Raebareli has remained a stronghold of the Gandhi family, with Sonia Gandhi representing it from 2004 until 2024.
Feroze Gandhi, the husband of Indira Gandhi and a Congress leader, secured victories twice from Raebareli in 1952 and 1957. Arun Nehru, the grandnephew of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, won in a 1980 bypoll and again in 1984. Sheila Kaul, Jawaharlal Nehru’s sister-in-law, emerged victorious in 1989 and 1991. Members of the Nehru-Gandhi family refrained from contesting the seat only on two occasions, in 1962 and 1999.
With the Congress contesting 17 out of UP’s 80 Lok Sabha seats in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and other regional outfits, the selection of candidates for these key constituencies is of paramount importance for the opposition INDIA bloc.
Suspense over Amethi, Raebareli
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 2, 2024
Only two days are left for filing the nominations for Amethi and Raebareli, and Congress has not yet declared the candidates. Local Cong leaders feel that if the Gandhi family doesn't fight in Amethi, it will not send a good message…:… pic.twitter.com/4EguINzrIe