Sources suggest that Priyanka’s reluctance stems from concerns that three members of the Gandhi family would hold seats in Parliament if both she and Rahul were to win.

After much anticipation and delays, the Congress has finally announced its candidates for the high-profile seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi is set to contest from Rae Bareli, while his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has opted out of the electoral race in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

For the constituency of Amethi, the Congress has chosen Kishori Lal Sharma, a long-time loyalist of the Gandhis. Sharma, with a background of serving as Sonia Gandhi”s representative in Rae Bareli, will be making his electoral debut with this election.

Both Rahul Gandhi, who is also contesting from Kerala”s Wayanad, and Sharma will file their nominations today. Amethi and Rae Bareli will go to the polls in the fifth phase on May 20.

Insiders in the party reveal that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had urged Priyanka to contest from either Amethi or Rae Bareli, but she declined. Reportedly, she had conveyed her decision to the top brass, including Kharge, at least two months ago, expressing her intent to focus solely on campaign activities. In the event of the Gandhi siblings opting out, the responsibility of candidate selection was entrusted to the party leadership.

Sources suggest that Priyanka’s reluctance stems from concerns that three members of the Gandhi family would hold seats in Parliament if both she and Rahul were to win. This could bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s criticism of dynastic politics in Congress.

However, some within the party express concerns that her decision might be perceived negatively by voters. Priyanka has been actively campaigning and has emerged as a prominent face in the Congress” response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s mangalsutra, wealth distribution etc allegations. Many believe that the Congress could have leveraged her start power for electoral gains had she contested.

At the grassroots level, Congress workers are also disappointed, believing that Rahul had a strong chance to reclaim victory in Amethi this time, and the party missed an opportunity. They also question whether Rahul”s “daro mat” (don”t be scared) slogan was directed only at others.

However, a close aide of the Gandhis said that with only one Gandhi left in the electoral race, the logical choice was Rae Bareli, being a sitting seat vital for the Congress”s stronghold. Abandoning it would have been a disaster. By fielding Sharma, a seasoned player familiar with Amethi”s intricacies, the party believes it has brought forth a formidable challenger against Smriti Irani.

Congress insiders also argue that contesting from Amethi would have dragged them into a daily war of words with Irani, potentially diverting attention from the issue-based narrative the party has built thus far.

“Then it will become a Rahul versus Smriti fight. You know electronic media. We don’t want to make it a personality war. It is a war of ideas. We have set an agenda and it will go for a toss if Rahul fights from Amethi,” a partyman said.

Rahul is set to face BJP”s Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli, while Sharma squares off against Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, who scored a shock win against Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 polls and has been vigorously campaigning in the constituency.

Congress leaders are confident that Rahul will post a thumping win in Rae Bareli and Sharma will reverse the party’s loss in Amethi. They added that they are ready to counter the BJP campaign. The BJP’s line of attack will likely revolve around questioning Rahul’s choice of Rae Bareli and that he would abandon it for Wayanad.

Meanwhile, as expected, the BJP has launched its attack on Rahul Gandhi. Party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said the Congress is now “addicted to daydreaming”. “Rahul Gandhi”s decision to not contest in Amethi shows that the Congress campaigns lacks confidence. Instead of leading the fight like a responsible general, he is behaving like a runaway soldier,” he said.

During a rally in West Bengal today, PM Modi didn”t spare Sonia Gandhi either, saying he had predicted that both mother and son won”t contest out of fear. He said, “I had already said in the Parliament that their (Congress) biggest leader will not dare to fight elections and she will run away. She ran away to Rajasthan and came to the Rajya Sabha… I had already said that the Shehzada was going to lose in Wayanad. I had said that as soon as the polling was completed in Wayanad, he would start looking for another seat… He is so scared of Amethi that he is running towards Rae Bareli. They ask everyone “Daro Mat”. Today, I also ask them, “Daro Mat, Bhago Mat”…”