2024 polls: Rahul likely to contest both Amethi and Wayanad; Priyanka from Rae Bareli

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi may contest from the Amethi seat, which he lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani in 2019, in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, while his sister Priyanka Gandhi is speculated to run from Rae Bareli, which was recently vacated by Sonia Gandhi, NDTV reported.

The reports says that besides Amethi, Rahul will also contest from Kerala’s Wayanad from where he won in 2019.

Did Sonia make way for Priyanka?

While speculations were rife about Priyanka taking over Rae Bareli, the traditional seat of the Gandhi family since the time of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, it became evident after her mother Sonia vacated it recently and moved to the Rajya Sabha.

Sonia, who has been a five-time MP from Rae Bareli, was the only Congress leader to win a seat in Uttar Pradesh in 2019.

Sonia’s exit amplified speculations that Priyanka, whose looks are often compared with Indira, will fill in her mother’s shoes and be fielded by the party from the constituency.

Posters were also put up, purportedly by Congress supporters, calling for Priyanka’s candidature.

“Take Congress’ development work forward, Rae Bareli is calling…Priyanka Gandhiji, please come,” said a poster.

Rahul eyeing lost bastion?

If the speculations are true, Rahul’s return to fight in Amethi, is a bold move given the embarrassing drubbing he faced at the hands of Irani in the last Lok Sabha polls. Rahul had lost the polls by 55,000 votes.

Like Rae Bareli, Amethi too has been a Congress bastion – from where both Sanjay Gandhi and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi won elections –and Rahul has been often criticised for losing it to the BJP.

While Irani has used the Amethi loss to get back at Rahul multiple times, she recently dared him to fight solely from the constituency.

“Rahul Gandhi considered Amethi as the centre of power but did not provide service. That is why he was welcomed by the deserted streets of Amethi. Congress workers who welcomed Rahul Gandhi did not participate in his yatra due to which the Congress had to call workers from Sultanpur and Pratapgarh," Irani told the media, when Rahul’s Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra entered the constituency.

“Amethi's former MP insulted the people of Amethi in Wayanad. Amethi was distressed due to this. Ram Lalla's invitation was rejected by him and his family. Amethi is distressed due to this also," she said, adding, "I dare him (Rahul) to contest from Amethi alone in the Lok Sabha elections."