• Rahul Gandhi to contest Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma against Smriti Irani in Amethi

    National
    Rahul Gandhi to contest Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma against Smriti Irani in Amethi

    The party's decision to field Rahul Gandhi from this prestigious seat was announced on the final day of nomination filings...

    Digital Desk: In a significant political maneuver, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to contest from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, a constituency held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, for four consecutive terms. Sonia Gandhi recently transitioned to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year, marking the end of her tenure in Raebareli. The party's decision to field Rahul Gandhi from this prestigious seat was announced on the final day of nomination filings, adding a dramatic twist to the electoral landscape.

    The eleventh-hour decision also saw Congress pitting Kishori Lal Sharma against Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, a constituency where Rahul Gandhi faced defeat in the 2019 elections. This move follows days of intense speculation and debate within political circles regarding the potential candidacy of the Gandhi family members in these crucial constituencies.

    Rahul Gandhi, who is concurrently seeking re-election from Kerala's Wayanad, will be facing BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli. Singh, who contested against Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, presents a formidable challenge to the Congress scion. The decision to contest from Raebareli underscores Rahul Gandhi's commitment to revitalizing Congress's presence in key electoral battlegrounds.

    Amethi, once considered a stronghold for the Congress party, witnessed a significant political upheaval in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP's Smriti Irani. Despite this setback, Rahul Gandhi's candidacy in Raebareli signals a strategic realignment of Congress's electoral strategy, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

    Sonia Gandhi's decision not to contest the upcoming elections sparked speculation regarding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's potential candidacy in Raebareli, a traditional Congress bastion. However, the Congress's announcement of Rahul Gandhi's candidacy laid these speculations to rest, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh.

    Smriti Irani, who emerged victorious in Amethi in 2019, has been vocal in her criticism of the Congress party's leadership. Her assertion that she accomplished in five years what Rahul Gandhi couldn't achieve in fifteen underscores the intense political rivalry between the two parties. BJP leaders have suggested that Congress's indecisiveness in candidate selection reflects their apprehension towards electoral defeat.

    The history of Amethi as a Congress bastion, marred by Rahul Gandhi's defeat in 2019, underscores the shifting political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh. Despite its historical allegiance to the Congress party, Amethi has witnessed sporadic victories by non-Congress candidates, highlighting the evolving electoral landscape in the region.

    Raebareli, with its rich political legacy dating back to Feroze Gandhi's candidacy in 1952, holds symbolic significance for the Gandhi family. Sonia Gandhi's decision to relinquish the seat in favor of the Rajya Sabha marks the end of an era in Raebareli's electoral history. Her open letter to the constituents, citing health concerns and advancing age, reflects a poignant moment in the family's political journey.

    As Rahul Gandhi prepares to embark on a new electoral campaign in Raebareli, the legacy of the Gandhi family continues to resonate in the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh. With the May 20th polls looming ahead, all eyes will be on the outcome of this high-stakes electoral battle, which could potentially redefine the political fortunes of the Congress party in the region.