Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been campaigning extensively for the Congress
New Delhi:
The Congress’s announcement of candidates for its two status seats, Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, has successfully put the lid on hypothesis relating to senior occasion chief Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s electoral debut.
In response to sources within the occasion, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had requested Ms Gandhi Vadra to contest from Amethi or Rae Bareli, however she refused. Behind her reluctance, sources mentioned, was the truth that a victory for her and her brother Rahul Gandhi would put three members of the Gandhi household in Parliament — mom Sonia Gandhi is now in Rajya Sabha. This could reinforce the BJP’s cost of dynastic politics, she reasoned, based on sources within the occasion.
Some leaders, nevertheless, worry that her resolution might create a adverse notion amongst voters. Ms Gandhi Vadra has been campaigning extensively and has been the face of the Congress’s counterstrike after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘mangalsutra’ cost on the Grand Previous occasion. Many really feel that the Congress may have benefited from her star energy if she contested the polls.
The Congress’s much-awaited resolution on these two seats got here early this morning. An enormous shock was Rahul Gandhi being fielded from Rae Bareli, and never Amethi, which he has represented thrice in Lok Sabha. For Amethi, the Congress selected Kishori Lal Sharma, a long-time loyalist of the Gandhis. Mr Sharma, who has earlier labored as Sonia Gandhi’s consultant in Rae Bareli, will probably be contesting his first election.
Each Rahul Gandhi, who can be contesting from Kerala’s Wayanad, and Mr Sharma will probably be submitting their nomination as we speak. Amethi and Rae Bareli will vote within the fifth part of Lok Sabha polls on Could 20.
Mr Gandhi will tackle the BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli and Mr Sharma is up in opposition to Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi. Ms Irani had scored a shock win in opposition to Mr Gandhi within the 2019 polls and has been campaigning extensively within the constituency.
Congress leaders are assured that Mr Gandhi will put up a thumping win in Rae Bareli. For Amethi, they are saying that Mr Sharma is a grassroots chief who will carry out nicely.
Ms Gandhi Vadra took to social media to increase her greetings to Mr Sharma. “Kishori Lal Sharma shares a bond with our household. He has been devoted to serving the folks of Amethi and Rae Bareli. His zeal for public service is an instance,” she mentioned.
“It’s heartening that the Congress has named him its candidate from Amethi. His dedication and sense of responsibility will certainly carry him success on this election,” she posted on X.
The BJP has taken a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over the Congress’s transfer to change him from Amethi to Rae Bareli.
Get together spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill mentioned the Congress is now “hooked on daydreaming”. “Rahul Gandhi’s resolution to not contest in Amethi exhibits that the Congress campaigns lacks confidence. As a substitute of main the combat like a accountable common, he’s behaving like a runaway soldier,” he mentioned.