The political perplexity in Congress regarding the two prominent seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli seems to gain some clarity now. Despite the constant denial of the Gandhi family to be contesting elections from both these seats the curtain has been raised. The speculated outcome has come to light. It is being considered that with the persuasion of his mother Sonia Gandhi’s persuasion, Rahul Gandhi consented to contest the election, securing the candidacy for the Rae Bareli seat, traditionally considered a stronghold. Concurrently, the party’s decision to nominate Kishori Lal Sharma, a long-time representative of the Gandhi family, for the Amethi seat has raised eyebrows. This unexpected move by the Congress has provided ample fodder for opposition criticism.
However, party spokesperson Jairam Ramesh is saying that Rahul is contesting the election from Rae Bareli as per strategy. Kishori filed nomination before Rahul. Priyanka Gandhi also gave a speech in her support and also assured campaigning. While Rahul Gandhi’s mother Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi, brother-in-law Robert Vadra and national president Mallikarjun Kharge were present at the time of filing his nomination. After Rahul’s nomination from Rae Bareli was announced on Friday morning, the entire Gandhi family along with organization general secretary KC Venugopal, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and many other leaders reached the airport near Amethi-Rae Bareli in the same plane.
Priyanka Gandhi, accompanied by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, made a significant stop in Amethi to file the nomination for Kishori Lal before returning to Rae Bareli. This move comes on the heels of Rahul Gandhi’s warm welcome in Rae Bareli, prompting questions about the sudden departure from Amethi. Opposition parties, particularly the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have seized upon this development, insinuating fear as the motive behind the departure. Congress finds itself grappling with inquiries without a clear response. The unexpected decision to vacate the Amethi seat, traditionally a stronghold, hints at a strategic shift within the Gandhi family. Doubts persist regarding Kishori Lal’s prospects in the upcoming election.
Besides, BJP quite strategically, has nominated Dinesh Pratap Singh making Rahul’s path challenging. It is not going to be a bed of roses for Rahul with a strong opponent in the fray. Although BJP has again nominated Dinesh Pratap Singh, who lost the last election from there, Dinesh Pratap Singh is a minister in the state government. Experts say that DP Singh did not leave Rae Bareli after losing the election. The team that played an important role in making Smriti Irani win Amethi, took Rae Bareli as its responsibility. They have been active there for the last five years. The state government has also left no stone unturned in development. While on the other hand, the Gandhi family has reduced its activity there. In such a situation, it will not be easy for him to win Rae Bareli this time. While Rahul Gandhi went ahead and filed his nomination, his body language suggested a sense of reluctance.
Prior to the nomination filing, preparations were made for a puja by the workers, yet Rahul refrained from participating. Notably, Rahul maintained his distance from Amethi, leaving Priyanka to handle Kishori’s nomination.
Robert Vadra, Priyanka’s brother-in-law, notably donned white khadi attire for the occasion, a departure from his usual attire. Despite expressing interest in contesting from Amethi, Vadra’s aspirations were not aligned with the family’s readiness. Congress hints that Priyanka Gandhi’s electoral journey may not be over yet, fueling speculation of her potential candidacy against Prime Minister Modi in Varanasi. However, these rumors are widely regarded as baseless.
