After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jibe, pressure has increased on the Congress to contest elections on traditionally considered seats of Uttar Pradesh. According to sources, now the party can field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi, and either Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi from Rae Bareli.
An attempt is also being made to field a member of the Gandhi family from any such seat in Western Uttar Pradesh, where winning is possible due to caste equations. Meaning, a seat with a significant Muslim population where the votes of Dalits and backward castes are also substantial.
Even if the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party don’t directly support, they might indirectly assist in friendly contests. Whether they will contest or not will be known from the upcoming elections of the Rajya Sabha this month.
The last date for nomination for Rajya Sabha elections is February 15th. After the inauguration ceremony of Lord Ram’s statue in Ayodhya, the Congress is hesitating to field candidates from the Gandhi family in the elections due to changing circumstances.
Especially former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Due to health and age reasons, there is discussion within the party about sending her to the Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Modi, speaking in the Lok Sabha during the President’s address, without taking any names, had said that some people are talking about coming from the other house due to the fear of defeat.
At that time, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was present in the house. The way Modi targeted Congress was interpreted as targeting Sonia Gandhi. There is no doubt that this time Uttar Pradesh, where the atmosphere is tense, poses significant challenges for Congress. In the last general elections, Rahul Gandhi lost from Amethi. There was also a decrease in Sonia Gandhi’s victory margin.
Subsequently, the party suffered significant defeats in Raebareli and Amethi in the state assembly elections. Congress now only has a presence there in name. Efforts are being made to appoint Avinash Pandey as the party’s state in-charge for Lok Sabha, replacing Priyanka Gandhi, but there is a shortage of candidates.
The party is also in a dilemma that even after the Gandhi family contests elections, if the party fails to win any seat, it will face a big crisis. Rahul Gandhi could contest not only from Amethi but also from Wayanad in Kerala.
The dilemma lies with Sonia Gandhi about contesting elections. There is a consensus within the party that Sonia Gandhi should come to Parliament from the Rajya Sabha so that her residence and other facilities remain intact. Priyanka could contest from her place in Raebareli. The party’s decision will be known before February 15th. If any member of the Gandhi family comes from the Rajya Sabha, it will be the first time.