The Congress party’s decision came after weeks of anticipation.
New Delhi: In a surprise move, the Congress party made a last-minute decision regarding the seats of Amethi and Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi will be running for Raebareli, the seat vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi when she moved to the Rajya Sabha, instead of attempting to reclaim Amethi.
Kishori Lal Sharma, a long-time loyalist of the Gandhi family, will contest for the Congress in Amethi, a family stronghold that shifted to the BJP five years ago. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra chose not to run from Raebareli, despite her years of dedication to the constituency on behalf of her mother.
The Congress decision was confirmed on Friday after weeks of uncertainty.
After filing his nomination, Rahul Gandhi will hold a major roadshow today. Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will join him at the event.
After the candidates were announced for the two key seats, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra congratulated KL Sharma and praised his “loyalty and dedication” as assets for the upcoming election.
“Our family has had a long-standing relationship with Kishori Lal Sharma ji. His passion for public service is a remarkable example. Today, I am pleased to see the Congress Party nominating him from Amethi. His loyalty and dedication will surely lead him to success in this election,” she said.
There are concerns that Rahul Gandhi’s seat change may benefit the BJP, particularly given Union minister Smriti Irani’s 2019 victory in Amethi. Irani, who plans to defend her seat, suggested the Congress delay was due to uncertainty about her potential victory.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV earlier this week, Irani stated that the leadership “is aware that this is a losing seat for them because if they were confident of their victory, they would have announced their candidate sooner.”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s decision not to contest could further unsettle the party. Many Congress leaders believe it may create a negative perception that could impact the election outcome across the country. Polling remains in 353 seats, with the Congress contesting 330.
Sources suggest Priyanka Vadra’s reluctance may stem from concerns that her win in Raebareli could reinforce the BJP’s allegations of dynasty politics, as all three Gandhis would then be in parliament. Sonia Gandhi already serves in the Rajya Sabha, while Rahul Gandhi is running from Wayanad, Kerala.
