(Image source from: Twitter.com/RahulGandhi)
Rahul Gandhi, a prominent member of the Congress party, is set to submit his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. This constituency holds significant importance for the Gandhi family and was previously represented by Rahul's mother, Sonia Gandhi. In a separate move, Rahul's loyalist, Kishori Lal Sharma, will be contesting from Amethi. The deadline for filing nominations for both constituencies is Friday, May 3. The elections for these seats, which have traditionally been strongholds for the Gandhi family, will take place on May 20. Sonia Gandhi vacated the Rae Bareli seat earlier this year after becoming a member of the Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi is already running for the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad district in Kerala. In Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi will be contesting against Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP, who was defeated by Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 general elections. Kishori Lal Sharma has a close association with Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. Rahul Gandhi has previously represented the Amethi constituency in the Lok Sabha in 2004, 2009, and 2014. However, in 2019, he lost this family stronghold to the BJP's Smriti Irani. He was then elected to the Lower House of Parliament from Wayanad. Sonia Gandhi is expected to attend Rahul Gandhi's nomination proceedings, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will accompany Kishori Lal Sharma.
The supporters of Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were fully prepared with their nomination papers, while Smriti Irani from the BJP has submitted her nomination papers for Amethi. The delay in announcing candidates for the two seats has led to criticism from the BJP, who claim that the Congress lacks confidence. When asked about contesting the elections from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi stated last month that he would abide by the decisions made by the party leadership. Sonia Gandhi previously represented Rae Bareli from 2004 to 2024 and won the Lok Sabha elections in Amethi in 1999. The Congress is competing in 17 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, while their ally, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, is contesting in 63 seats.
