The uncertainty surrounding the Congress candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli seats in Uttar Pradesh persists as efforts are being made to persuade Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to participate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The voting for Amethi and Raebareli is scheduled for May 20 in the fifth phase, yet the Congress has not yet disclosed the candidates’ names. The deadline for filing nominations for these seats in the fifth phase is May 3.
Reports indicate that both Rahul and Priyanka are hesitant to contest from Raebareli or Amethi. However, attempts are being made to convince one or both of the Gandhi siblings to run for elections in these Congress strongholds. The party has not considered any other candidates for these seats. Some sources suggest that Rahul Gandhi might contest from Raebareli, while Priyanka may choose not to participate in the elections and instead focus on campaigning nationwide.
There is a prevailing belief within the Congress that the absence of a Nehru-Gandhi family member in the Uttar Pradesh elections would convey a negative political message. Additionally, there is a concern that if Rahul Gandhi were to win both Wayanad and Amethi, he would need to vacate one of the seats, potentially upsetting the voters.
The Congress had a winning streak in Amethi and Raebareli from 1999 until the 2019 Lok Sabha Polls when Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi to Union Minister Smriti Irani. Sonia Gandhi, the representative of Raebareli, has decided not to contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Rahul ran for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Wayanad, a constituency he also won by a significant margin in 2019. The voting in Wayanad took place during the second phase on April 26.
The Congress is participating in the elections for Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha seats in collaboration with the Samajwadi Party. Out of the 80 seats in UP, Congress has been assigned 17 seats, while the rest have been divided among the Samajwadi Party and other allies.
The final phase of the Lok Sabha Election is scheduled for June 1, with the results set to be announced on June 4.