Amethi: Following SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s decision to contest from Kannauj, it is now highly likely that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will also contest the elections from Amethi. Sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi may file his nomination from Amethi on May 1, as his candidacy has been approved by the party. Amethi has traditionally been a stronghold for the Congress party, having won the seat 13 times in the general elections since 1967, with the BJP winning twice. Rahul Gandhi himself has been elected to Parliament from Amethi in 2004, 2009, and 2014. However, he faced defeat in the 2019 elections against BJP’s Smriti Irani.
The question of whether Congress will field Priyanka Gandhi on the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat remains uncertain. The party has yet to make a decision on this matter. It is expected that Congress will announce the candidates for both Amethi and Rae Bareli seats on April 27. It is worth noting that in 2019, Rahul Gandhi contested elections from two seats, winning from Wayanad in Kerala but losing from Amethi. This time as well, he is contesting from Wayanad.
Name may be announced on April 27
In Uttar Pradesh, it is important to note that the Congress party is participating in the elections in collaboration with the Samajwadi Party. The Congress party currently holds 17 seats, with candidates announced for 15 of them. However, candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli have not been revealed yet. Dr. CP Rai, the State Congress media in-charge, has stated that a request has been forwarded to the central leadership on behalf of the State Congress to nominate both Rahul and Priyanka as candidates. The announcement of their names is expected to be made by the 27th of April.
In 1999, Sonia Gandhi emerged victorious in the Amethi constituency.
Sanjay Gandhi emerged victorious in the election for the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in 1980. Subsequently, Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister, secured victories in 1984, 1989, and 1991. In 1999, Sonia Gandhi ran for elections in Amethi and emerged triumphant. Following this, Sonia Gandhi began contesting elections from Rae Bareli, where she was elected as a Member of Parliament consecutively in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. Sonia Gandhi will not be contesting from Rae Bareli in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Consequently, there are speculations that Priyanka Gandhi might be nominated.