Rahul’s Choice: Raebareli Over Amethi in Lok Sabha Election – What’s the Reason? admin, May 4, 2024 The recent decision by the Gandhi siblings to not contest from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh has brought a mix of good and bad news for the Congress cadre and supporters in the state. The local UP unit had pressured the siblings to contest from both constituencies, fearing that not contesting from Amethi might give an easy win to Smriti Irani. This decision has left some Congress workers disheartened and has provided ammunition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to target the Gandhi family and the Congress. The Congress has traditionally performed well in Amethi and Raebareli, with a stronghold on the latter being considered the pocket borough of the Gandhi-Nehru family. The decision not to contest from Amethi has sparked criticism from BJP leaders, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi using it as fodder for attacks during election rallies. With the Congress now in alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP), Raebareli appears to be a safer bet. This move has also raised questions about the future electoral strategies of the Congress, with considerations about party cadre motivation and potential by-poll battles. There are reports suggesting that Rahul Gandhi wishes to retain the Wayanad seat due to his successful election there in 2019, but this decision has also faced criticisms and concerns about the potential impact on the upcoming elections. The strategic decisions made by the Congress leadership have both pros and cons, and their impact on the election results will only be revealed on June 4. City: Amethi