Rahul Gandhi skips Amethi, files nomination from Rae Bareli

Rahul Gandhi is already contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Kerala's Wayanad district.

Updated on: May 3, 2024, 14:23:11 IST

By HT News Desk

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has filed his Lok Sabha elections' nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, the family stronghold, which was vacated by Sonia Gandhi. The BJP, meanwhile, has said the Congress stalwart will lose from Rae Bareli as well.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting for Lok Sabha polls, in Shimoga, Karnataka. (PTI)

Kishori Lal Sharma, Gandhi's loyalist, will contest the polls from Amethi.

The two seats, which used to be the Gandhi family's strongholds, will go to polls on May 20.

Also read: BJP takes 'last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar' jibe at Rahul Gandhi over Rae Bareli move

The Rae Bareli seat was vacated by Sonia Gandhi after she became a member of the Rajya Sabha earlier this year.

Also read: Who is Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress party's candidate in Amethi?

Rahul Gandhi is already contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Kerala's Wayanad district.

Rahul Gandhi, the incumbent MP from Kerala's Wayanad, will contest the Rae Bareli polls against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh, whom Sonia Gandhi defeated in the 2019 general elections.

Kishori Lal Sharma is a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi's in Amethi.

Rahul Gandhi represented the Amethi constituency in the Lok Sabha thrice -- 2004, 2009, 2014. However, in 2019, he lost his family stronghold to BJP's Smriti Irani. He was elected to the Lower House of Parliament from Kerala's Wayanad.

Sonia Gandhi is likely to attend Rahul Gandhi's nomination proceedings. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will accompany Kishori Lal Sharma.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's supporters had already prepared their nomination papers.

BJP's Smriti Irani has filed her nomination papers from Amethi.

The delay in announcing candidates on the two seats had prompted BJP's attacks. The party attributed the delay to the Congress's alleged lack of self-confidence.

Asked if he would contest the elections from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi last month said he would do what the party leadership decides.

Sonia Gandhi represented Rae Bareli between 2004 and 2024. She won the Lok Sabha polls in Amethi in 1999.

The Congress is contesting 17 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Its ally, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is contesting 63 seats.

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HT News Desk
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