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Two days left for filing nomination, Congress undecided on candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli seats
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Summary
The Amethi seat has been represented by Rahul since 2004 and he remained a member of Parliament from the constituency till 2019. BJP’s Smriti Irani defeated Rahul in the 2019 General Elections.
The suspense over Congress candidates for high-profile Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh continues with only two days left for filing nominations. Multiple reports suggested that party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from these seats.
Both the constituencies are considered as traditional pocket boroughs of the Gandhi-Nehru family as its members have represented the seats for several decades.
PTI quoted sources saying Rahul is likely to contest from Rae Bareli. Priyanka is also keen on contesting from the Rae Bareli seat, but Rahul Gandhi is not favourable to the idea.
KL Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhis, said people are expecting the Gandhi family members to contest from the Amethi and Rae Bareli seats.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said a decision would be announced in the next 24-30 hours. “My expectation is that in the next 24-30 hours, the Congress president will finalise and a decision taken by him will be announced,” Ramesh said.
Asked why there is a delay in taking a decision and if the Congress was “scared” in fielding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Ramesh said, “There is no delay. Has the BJP announced its candidates in Rae Bareli? Smriti Irani is a sitting MP. Nobody is scared, discussions are ongoing, and the Congress president has been authorised. There is no delay, there is time till May 3,” he said.
The Amethi seat has been represented by Rahul since 2004 and he remained a member of Parliament from the constituency till 2019. BJP’s Smriti Irani defeated Rahul in the 2019 General Elections.
The Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies go to polls on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections.
The Rae Bareli constituency was represented by Sonia Gandhi from 2004 to 2024. Prior to that, Sonia Gandhi had represented the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency after she entered politics in 1999. She is now a Rajya Sabha MP.
With inputs from PTI
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