Rahul Gandhi Could Run for Lok Sabha in 2024 from Raebareli, According to Congress Sources

The upcoming Lok Sabha Election in 2024 has prompted discussions within the Congress party regarding the potential candidature of the Gandhi siblings from two VIP seats in Uttar Pradesh. The party’s decision-making process has been delayed, with the deadline for filing nominations approaching on Friday. In a recent meeting, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge suggested that both siblings should contest from the family-held bastions in Uttar Pradesh, leaving the final decision to them considering their understanding of the state’s ground reality. KL Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, previously represented Sonia Gandhi in the constituency, but she has since moved to the Rajya Sabha, creating a vacancy that was expected to be filled by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

However, despite pressure, Ms. Gandhi Vadra has remained firm in her decision not to contest, largely due to concerns that her entry into Raebareli would reinforce BJP’s accusations of dynasty politics, especially if all three Gandhi family members were to be in parliament. The potential repercussions of the decision not to contest were also highlighted, with indications that it could send a wrong message and have implications not only in Uttar Pradesh but across the country. Rahul Gandhi, who lost Amethi to the BJP in 2019, is expected to make an effort to regain the seat, having contested and won from Kerala’s Wayanad in the last election. The delay in finalizing the candidates for the two seats has led to public expressions of discontent, with Congress workers in Amethi protesting earlier in the week for a member of the Gandhi family as the candidate.

The elections for both seats are scheduled for the fifth phase on May 20.