The Congress’s delay in naming candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli seats, known as strongholds for the Nehru-Gandhi family, has left party leaders and workers perplexed. A report by The Indian Express suggests that Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra seem hesitant to run, leading to last-minute efforts to convince one or both of them to enter the race.
The grand old party wants both Rahul and Priyanka to run for office and has not shortlisted any other candidates for the Raebareli and Amethi seats. The filing deadline for nominations for these seats ends on May 3, with both constituencies scheduled to vote on May 20. Many in the party believe that the absence of the Gandhis from the Hindi heartland would convey a negative political message, thus hoping that one of them will indeed run. However, this remains uncertain as most leaders seem unsure.
If Priyanka chooses to run, she will become the eighth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to join electoral politics under the Congress banner. If both she and Rahul win their respective battles, it would mark the first time that three members of the Gandhi family concurrently serve in Parliament. Sonia Gandhi, their mother and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, recently became a member of the Rajya Sabha.
There’s a discussion about the perception of having three family members in Parliament. While some Congress leaders argue that the BJP’s criticism of dynasty politics would persist regardless of the Gandhis contesting, there’s concern that the BJP’s attacks could intensify if both Rahul and Priyanka run.
Rahul faces the dilemma of potentially winning both Amethi and Wayanad, leading to the need to choose one seat and vacate the other. Amethi, which he has represented thrice, and Wayanad, which he won in 2019, pose this dilemma.
Few Congress leaders are, however, playing down these talks. “Indira Gandhi had won perhaps the most crucial election of her life from Chikkamagaluru in 1978. But she decided to contest from Medak and Raebareli in 1980 and after winning both she vacated Raebareli. Sonia Gandhi won from both Bellary and Amethi in 1999 but she left Bellary,” one leader said.
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The Congress is grappling with the decision of whether Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from Amethi and Raebareli, respectively. If Priyanka opts out, there’s hope within the party to convince Rahul. Some suggest Priyanka contesting against Smriti Irani in Amethi while Rahul shifts to Raebareli. These constituencies hold sentimental value for the Gandhi family, having been represented by family members since 1952. However, the Congress faced setbacks in 2019, losing Amethi while retaining Raebareli with reduced margins.
Both constituencies, Amethi and Raebareli, are set to go to polling on May 20 during the fifth phase of the seven-phase 18th Lok Sabha elections.