BJP's ‘minority' jibe amid Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha re-election bid from Wayanad

There is speculation that Rahul Gandhi may also fight from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi.

Published on: Mar 8, 2024, 15:44:04 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday reacted to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's decision to re-contest from Kerala's Wayanad in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat's Jhalod town. (Reuters)

Former union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned why Gandhi was not contesting elections from Amethi.

He also alleged that Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad due to the Congres party's dependence on minority politics.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) claims that the entire nation is in Congress' favour then why he is not contesting elections from Amethi?” Prasad was quoted as saying by ANI. “He went to Wayanad because the minorities are in the majority there. Congress' whole politics is dependent on minorities.”

Rahul Gandhi is set to contest from Kerala’s Wayanad seat again in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party’s central election committee (CEC) decided on Thursday evening, people aware of developments said.

Also Read | Suspense continues over Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Amethi

There is speculation that Gandhi may also fight from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, a seat he won in 2004, 2009 and 2014 before losing in 2019, said the people cited above, though seats from the state were not discussed in Thursday’s meeting.

Congress CEC meeting

Besides Rahul Gandhi, the names of about 50 candidates were cleared by the Congress CEC in its first meeting on Thursday to finalise names for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s name was cleared from Thiruvananthapuram. Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, and former deputy CM of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, were asked to contest the polls. Both of them were present at the CEC meeting. Jyotsna Mahant’s name was cleared from Chhattisgarh.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal attended the meeting while Rahul Gandhi joined the meeting via Zoom.

After the CEC meeting, Sachin Pilot said a detailed discussion was held over each seat and the decision will be announced soon. "Whichever person is in the position to win will be asked to contest," Sachin Pilot said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.