The Congress has picked Rahul Gandhi for Rae Bareli and Gandhi family loyalist KL Sharma for Amethi.

After the Congress announced its candidates for the high-profile Rae Bareli and Amethi seats in Uttar Pradesh, party leader Jairam Ramesh said the decision to pick Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli was carefully planned.

“Many people have many opinions on the news of Rahul Gandhi contesting elections from Raebareli. Remember, he is an experienced player of politics and chess. The party leadership takes its decisions after much discussion and as part of a larger strategy. This single decision has befuddled the BJP, its supporters, and its sycophants.” Ramesh said in a long post on X (formerly Twitter).

Also referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Ramesh said, “The BJP”s self-proclaimed Chanakya, who used to talk about “paramparagat seat” is now not sure how to respond.”

On the Raebareli seat, a Gandhi family bastion, the senior Congressman said, “Raebareli has been the seat not only of Sonia ji but also of Indira Gandhi herself. It is not an inheritance; it is a responsibility and a duty.”

“As far as the Gandhi family is concerned, it is not just Amethi-Raebareli, the entire country from north to south is the stronghold of the Gandhi family. Rahul Gandhi has been MP thrice from Uttar Pradesh and once from Kerala. Why has the Prime Minister been unable to muster the courage to contest an election from a single seat below the Vindhyas?” Jairam Ramesh asked.

Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers from the seat today. For the Amethi seat, the Congress picked Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family. Contrary to expectations and demands by party workers, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has opted out of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Ramesh said, “Priyanka ji is campaigning vigorously and is single-handedly silencing Narendra Modi’s lies. The way she responded to the canards that the PM was spreading on the abolition of estate duty in March 1985 was a stinging rebuke. That is why it was important that she should not be limited to just one constituency. She is campaigning across the country.”

The Congress leader also took a swipe at BJP”s Amethi pick, Smriti Irani, and said, “Her only identity is that she contests elections from Amethi against Rahul Gandhi. Now, her political relevance is over.”

He added, “Instead of making meaningless statements, Smriti Irani will now have to answer about local development: closed hospitals, steel plants and IIITs.”

Ramesh signed off by saying that this is a long election. “There are a few chess moves still left to play. Let’s wait for a bit.”