Posters seeking ticket to Robert Vadra crop up outside Amethi Congress office
Vadra has also triggered speculation by saying if he contests from Amethi, its voters will be able to “correct” the “mistake” of electing Smriti Irani in 2019
Who will be the Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh? There is growing murmur that it could be Robert Vadra, party leader Priyanka Gandhi’s husband.
Vadra has himself triggered speculation by saying if he contests from Amethi, its voters will be able to “correct” the “mistake” of electing Smriti Irani of the BJP in 2019, defeating Rahul Gandhi.
"I am sure they will ensure my victory by a huge margin if I contest," he has said.
Posters crop up
Now, the issue has found an echo in Amethi itself.
Posters demanding Congress ticket to Vadra have come up outside the party office in the constituency, which was with the Gandhi family for decades since 1980.
The posters read "Amethi ki janta kare pukar, Robert Vadra ab ki baar" (People of Amethi want Robert Vadra this time).
Gandhi family seat
The issue has also started doing the rounds on social media.
Amethi votes on May 20 in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls, and the last day of filing nomination is May 3. The BJP has again named Irani as its candidate.
Amethi has been represented in the past by Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi.
Will it be Rahul?
When he lost the 2019 election in Amethi, Gandhi got elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad in Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Wayanad. Asked if he will contest from Amethi too, he said: "I will do whatever the party orders me."
Irani's challenge
Irani, whose campaign is in full swing, has slammed the Congress for not naming her opponent and suggested that the ticket will be given to a Gandhi family member.
She also alleged that Gandhi will come to Amethi after April 26 and try to divide people in the name of caste.
