Both Amethi and Raebareli are thought of to be conventional Congress bastions.
New Delhi:
The suspense over the Congress’s candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh is about to finish in the present day, simply at some point earlier than the nomination deadline. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is anticipated to announce the candidates for the 2 seats in the present day.
Speculation has been rife concerning the candidature of former get together president Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for Amethi and Raebareli, respectively. Rahul Gandhi, who confronted an sudden defeat in Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani in 2019, is anticipated to contest from there once more, presumably alongside his present constituency, Kerala’s Wayanad.
For Raebareli, held by Sonia Gandhi since 2004, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s entry into electoral politics is anticipated, nonetheless, discussions throughout the get together counsel a hesitancy in the direction of fielding all three Gandhi relations in parliament, contemplating the “dynastic politics” cost that the get together is commonly subjected to by the BJP.
Despite the delay within the announcement, Congress leaders reassured on Wednesday that the get together is just not deterred. Senior get together chief Jairam Ramesh stated that there isn’t any concern and discussions are ongoing. The final date for nominations is tomorrow (May 3).
“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 chief Rajeev Shukla stated.
The Amethi constituency had been synonymous with the Gandhi household’s political legacy, represented by Rahul Gandhi since 2004 till his defeat in 2019. Similarly, Raebareli has been the stronghold of the Gandhi household, with Sonia Gandhi representing it from 2004 to 2024.
Feroze Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s husband and Congress chief, triumphed twice from Raebareli in 1952 and 1957. Arun Nehru, grandnephew of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, clinched victories in a 1980 bypoll and in 1984. Sheila Kaul, Jawaharlal Nehru’s sister-in-law, secured wins in 1989 and 1991. Members of the Nehru-Gandhi household abstained from contesting the seat on solely two events, in 1962 and 1999.
With the Congress contesting 17 out of UP’s 80 Lok Sabha seats, in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and different regional outfits, the choice of candidates for these key constituencies is of paramount significance for the opposition INDIA bloc.