Congress Declares Decision on Amethi, Raebareli for Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Within 24 Hours

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has announced that the decision on the candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies will be revealed in the next 24 hours. The party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) has authorized Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to make the decision. There has been speculation about potential candidates, including former president Rahul Gandhi for Amethi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for Raebareli. The suspense surrounding the announcement has led to protests in Amethi, with Congress workers demanding the Gandhi family’s representation in the constituencies.

The delay in naming candidates has fueled the anticipation, with party workers hoping for an enthusiastic electoral debut from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Congress leader Rajeev Shukla has confirmed that the decision will be made by the CEC, emphasizing the popularity of the Gandhi family and the significant turnout at their public meetings. The upcoming election for both seats is scheduled for May 20 in the fifth phase. The Congress is set to contest 17 of UP’s 80 Lok Sabha seats, with the remaining 63 seats going to the INDIA bloc ally Samajwadi Party and regional outfits.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Smriti Irani has expressed confidence in securing a second consecutive term and remains unfazed by the prospect of facing either Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as opponents.