In a surprising turn of events, the Congress made a last-minute decision regarding the constituencies of Amethi and Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi, instead of contesting for Amethi as anticipated, will be running for Raebareli, the seat previously held by his mother Sonia Gandhi.
Amethi, a stronghold that shifted allegiance to the BJP five years ago, will now see Kishori Lal Sharma, a devoted supporter of the Gandhi family, as the Congress candidate. Despite efforts, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra declined to stand for Raebareli, a constituency she had diligently cared for on behalf of her mother for over ten years.
Both candidates are set to submit their candidacy today, the deadline for the fifth phase of elections scheduled for May 20.
Congress Announces Candidates for Raebareli and Amethi
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Wayanad, will now run for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh, a constituency traditionally held by his family. This seat was previously held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi. Kishori Lal Sharma, a loyalist to the Gandhi family, will contest from Amethi, where Rahul lost to Smriti Irani in 2019.
The Congress party announced their candidates for these seats on May 3, just before the deadline for nominations. This ends the speculation about who would be representing the party in these constituencies. Both Raebareli and Amethi will vote in the fifth phase of the elections on May 20. Rahul had previously contested and won from Wayanad in 2019, which voted in the second phase on April 26.
Rahul Gandhi Vs Dinesh Pratap Singh
The BJP declared UP minister Dinesh Pratap Singh as its pick for Raebareli on May 2. Singh lost to Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sonia Gandhi, who has held the Raebareli seat since 2004, decided not to contest in 2024 and is now a Rajya Sabha member.
Today, Rahul Gandhi and KL Sharma will file their nominations with support from top Congress leaders. Sharma has been a staunch supporter of the Gandhi family and represented Sonia Gandhi in Raibareli for a long time.
Even before the official announcement, the party began preparing for nominations in both seats, traditionally held by members of the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Kishori Lal Sharma Vs Smriti Irani
Kishori Lal Sharma, a dedicated Congress supporter from Ludhiana, Punjab, has a long history with the party. He joined in 1983, initially working with Rajiv Gandhi before later serving under Sonia Gandhi. Sharma managed Sonia’s campaigns in both Amethi and Raebareli.
For years, Congress held these seats, but in 2019, Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi to Smriti Irani of the BJP. Now, Irani is once again contesting from Amethi.
In Uttar Pradesh, Congress is teaming up with the Samajwadi Party for the Lok Sabha elections. They’ve secured 17 seats out of 80, while the rest are divided among other allies.
The final phase of the seven-round Lok Sabha Elections is set for June 1, with results to follow on June 4.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. Why did Rahul Gandhi switch from Amethi to Raebareli?
Ans. Rahul Gandhi decided to contest from Raebareli, previously held by his mother Sonia Gandhi, following the party’s strategic reevaluation. This decision aimed to fortify the Congress’s position in both constituencies.
Q.2. Who is contesting against Kishori Lal Sharma in Amethi?
Ans. Kishori Lal Sharma, a loyalist to the Gandhi family, will face off against Smriti Irani of the BJP, who won the Amethi seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, defeating Rahul Gandhi.
Q.3. What is the significance of Raebareli and Amethi constituencies?
Ans. Raebareli and Amethi are historically significant constituencies for the Congress party, traditionally held by members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. They symbolize the party’s stronghold in Uttar Pradesh.
Q.4. Who is the BJP candidate for Raebareli?
Ans. The BJP has nominated UP minister Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate for Raebareli. Singh previously contested against Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Q.5. When will the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results be announced?
Ans. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results are scheduled to be declared on June 4, following the completion of the final phase of voting on June 1.
