There is a possibility that Priyanka Gandhi may be fielded from Rae Bareli and Rahul Gandhi may contest the poll from Amethi.As the Congress is yet to announce its candidates for the two high-profile seats in Uttar Pradesh — Rae Bareli and Amethi – for the Lok Sabha elections, all sorts of rumours are doing the rounds. While some suggest that Rahul Gandhi will return to Amethi and Rae Bareli, vacated by Sonia Gandhi, will be represented by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, according to others, she is unlikely to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Reports suggest that she is hesitant to contest due to concerns about potential criticism of dynastic politics if multiple family members hold parliamentary seats. So her aim is to lead a pan-India campaign and concentrate on party activities.
A decision on whether Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi or Rae Bareli is expected within 24 hours.
“You will get some sort of surprise in Rae Bareli and Amethi,” said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to a news channel.
As Rae Bareli and Amethi will vote in the fifth phase on May 20, the deadline for the filing of nomination papers is May 3.
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who was the only Congress MP to win the Lok Sabha polls from UP in 2019, has now taken Rajya Sabha route from Rajasthan.
In her letter to the people of Rae Bareli on February 14, Sonia Gandhi wrote, “I will not contest the next Lok Sabha election for my advancing age and health reasons… I am sure you will take care of me and my family in difficult times as you have been doing up to now.”
Her appeal, urging the people to take care of her family, was interpreted as an indication that a member of Gandhi family will contest the poll from the seat
“Yes, Sonia Gandhi in her letter has given enough indication that a member of Gandhi family will contest the poll. We are sure a member of the Gandhi family, be it Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi will contest the poll from the seat,” Rae Bareli District Congress Committee president Pankaj Tiwari said.
Last week, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also suggested that Rahul Gandhi might fight from Uttar Pradesh.
When asked whether his INDIA bloc partner will come to Amethi to contest the poll, Akhilesh Yadav said, “Sab aayenge ab toh (Everyone will come now), mehfil toh ab U.P. mein hi sajegi (the gathering will be in Uttar Pradesh only).”
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah has taken a swipe at the Gandhi siblings as suspense over their candidature from Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha seats continues. During a press conference, Shah said the confusion shows they “lack self-confidence”, and reiterated his party’s jibe that the Gandhis have “run away”, leaving their traditional seats in Uttar Pradesh.
“I don’t know whether they will contest elections or not but the amount of confusion shows that they lack self-confidence. The situation in Uttar Pradesh is that they have left their traditional seats and ran away,” Shah said.
The BJP too, is yet to announce its candidate for Rae Bareli. There were reports that the party wanted Varun Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli, but he refused. The party is closely watching the Congress move and may decide its candidate after knowing about the Congress choice in Rae Bareli.
In Amethi, the BJP has fielded Union minister Smriti Irani again. After posters demanding candidacy for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s husband, Robert Vadra, emerged outside the local party office in Uttar Pradesh, 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.