The suspense surrounding the selection of Congress candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli seats in Uttar Pradesh persists as efforts persist to persuade Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, or at least one of them, to enter the electoral fray.
Amethi and Raebareli are scheduled for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, yet the Congress has not yet disclosed the candidates’ names. The deadline for filing nominations for the fifth phase seats is May 3.
Sources reveal that while both Rahul and Priyanka show reluctance to contest from Raebareli or Amethi, attempts are underway to convince either or both of the Gandhi siblings to contest from these two seats, traditionally considered Congress strongholds. The party has not shortlisted any other contenders for these seats.
Speculations suggest Rahul Gandhi may contest from the Raebareli seat, with Priyanka focusing on nationwide campaigning instead of participating in elections, according to an India Today report.
There’s a prevailing sentiment within the Congress that the absence of a Nehru-Gandhi family member in the Uttar Pradesh elections would convey a negative political message, as reported by The Indian Express.
Moreover, within the Congress, there’s a concern that if Rahul Gandhi were to win both Wayanad and Amethi, he might need to vacate one seat, potentially unsettling voters.
The Congress had held Amethi and Raebareli since 1999 until the 2019 Lok Sabha Polls, when Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi to Union Minister Smriti Irani. Sonia Gandhi, representing Raebareli, has opted out of the 2024 Lok Sabha race.
Rahul contested the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections from Wayanad, a seat he won comfortably in 2019 as well. Wayanad went to polls in the second phase on April 26.
The Congress is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha seats, with the Congress allocated 17 out of the 80 seats, while the rest were distributed among the Samajwadi Party and other allies.
The final phase of the Lok Sabha Election is slated for June 1, with results expected on June 4.
