India Lok Sabha Elections 2024 National News Politics

No Gandhi Vs Smriti In Rae Bareli

The suspense over Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi’s candidatures for the Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies in Uttar Pradesh ended today. The Congress decided to field Rahul Gandhi from Rae Bareli and Kishori Lal Sharma instead of Priyanka Gandhi from Amethi.

Congress workers and supporters were worried about the seats traditionally held by the Nehru-Gandhi family for Amethi and Rae Bareli. 

Reports suggest that both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were hesitant to run for the family’s traditional seats. Efforts were underway to persuade them to contest from at least one. 

The deadline for filing nominations is May 3, which is today. 

There were concerns that Rahul Gandhi’s absence from his former constituency, Amethi, over the past five years has provided ammunition to Smriti Irani, who defeated him in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election. If Gandhi were to lose from Amethi for the second time, especially considering he is the primary challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it would be a significant setback for him.

Furthermore, his decision to contest second time from Wayanad in Kerala instead of Amethi has led to the perception that he has already accepted defeat and feels insecure in his family stronghold.

Another question arises about whether Rahul Gandhi would win both Wayanad and Amethi. He would have to relinquish one seat, as each holds significance for him – one marked his first entry into the Lok Sabha in 2004, while the other made him an MP in 2019.

Known for her confident speaking abilities, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could have benefited the Congress if she ran in Amethi for Rahul Gandhi and won against Smriti Irani. On the other hand, as she is not participating in the elections, especially considering her essential role as a top campaigner for the party, people will wonder about the Congress’ decisions.

Both the seats will go to polls on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections.

Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, was eager for Gandhi to run from Amethi since reports from the ground and internal party polls indicated that Smriti Irani, the current MP and BJP’s repeat candidate, was facing significant anti-incumbency sentiment in the constituency. According to the report, Gandhi was hesitant to give up his Wayanad seat, even after running and winning from Amethi.  

Who is Kishori Lal Sharma:

Sharma has been close to the Gandhi family for over 40 years. Originally from Ludhiana, he started working in Amethi in 1983 and became close to former PM Rajiv Gandhi. Even after Rajiv’s death, Sharma stayed connected to the Gandhis. He helped Congress regain momentum in Amethi and Rae Bareli, representing Sonia Gandhi during her first win in Amethi in 1999. When Sonia passed the Amethi seat to Rahul, Sharma continued working with him while managing Rae Bareli. He said He’s grateful to Congress for nominating a “small party worker” for the “big family seat”. With 40 years of grassroots work, he’s facing BJP’s Smriti Irani in the upcoming polls.

 

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