Robert Vadra expressing confidence that the people of Amethi are eager to rectify what they see as a past mistake by electing Smriti Irani.

Even as the mystery shrouding the Congress” pick for the heavyweight Amethi constituency continues, posters demanding candidacy for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra”s husband, Robert Vadra, have emerged outside the local party office in Uttar Pradesh. The posters say, “Amethi ki janta kare pukar, Robert Vadra ab ki baar,” signaling the desire of the people of Amethi to see Robert Vadra in the electoral fray this time.

Scheduled to vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Amethi”s nomination deadline is May 3. While the BJP is repeating MP and Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, the Congress is yet to name its contender.

Historically, Amethi has been a stronghold for the Gandhis, with past representation from Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. In the 2019 elections, Smriti Irani secured a remarkable victory over Rahul Gandhi, who also contested and won from Kerala”s Wayanad. This year, Rahul Gandhi is again contesting from Wayanad, which goes to the polls on Friday.

Given that nominations for Amethi are open until May 3, Gandhi may file his papers after the Kerala elections. When asked about his candidacy in Amethi, Gandhi said, “I will abide by whatever decision the party makes.”

Robert Vadra”s potential candidacy has stirred excitement, with Vadra expressing confidence that the people of Amethi are eager to rectify what they see as a past mistake by electing Smriti Irani. He remarked, “I am confident they will ensure my victory by a significant margin if I contest.” Soon posters endorsing him as the Congress candidate began to circulate on social media.

Irani, intensifying her campaign, mocked the Congress for delaying the announcement of its candidate and took a dig at Gandhi and Vadra. She remarked, “Jijaji ki nazar hai, saale sahab kya karenge,” drawing parallels to an old practice where travelers in buses would reserve seats with handkerchiefs.

“Jijaji ki nazar hai, saale sahab kya karenge. There was a time when people travelling in buses would leave their handkerchief to mark their seat so that no one sits on it. Rahul Gandhi will also come to mark his seat with a handkerchief because his brother-in-law is eyeing this seat,” she told a gathering in Amethi.

“Has this ever happened? Just 27 days left for election, but Congress has not announced its candidate,” she added.

Irani then claimed that Rahul Gandhi will return to Amethi after the Wayanad vote and attempt to exploit caste divisions.

“After the voting in Wayanad on April 26, Rahul Gandhi will come here to tell everyone that Amethi is his family and stoke the fire of casteism. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rejected the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, but he will be seen roaming around the temples in Amethi. So there is a need to be careful and alert,” she said.

Congress had skipped the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya earlier in January, accusing the BJP of making it a political project.