Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contests Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi retains Rae Bareli
“It was not an easy decision as both the seats (Wayanad and Rae Bareli) are confirmed,” Rahul Gandhi said of the decision to vacate one of the seats. two seats are required by the rules
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her election debut from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala after her brother and former Congress leader Rahul Gandhi decided to retain the Rae Barel seat in Uttar Pradesh.
Gandhi won both seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, but as the rules allow only one seat to be retained, he had to contest within 14 days of the MP’s election. The deadline for this is June 18.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the decision at his official residence on Monday after a marathon meeting that lasted more than two hours.
Gandhi said it was a difficult decision for him as he has an emotional connection with the people of Rae Bareli and also with Wayanad. “I have an old relationship with Rae Barel and I am very happy to represent it. But it was not an easy decision as there is a connection with both places (Wayanad and Rae Bareli),” he told reporters shortly after Kharge announced the decision.
“I am very happy to represent Wayanad and all I can say is that I will not let them feel his (Mr Gandhi’s) absence. As he said, he comes often but I work just as hard and try to make everyone happy and be a good representative,” Vadra said.
He also claimed that his ties with Rae Bareli and Amethi cannot be severed as he has worked there for 20 years and continues to help his brother in Rae Bareli.
If Mrs. Vadra wins the Lok Sabha polls, all three members of the Gandhi family will be in Parliament for the first time.
“Let’s say both constituencies get two MPs,” Gandhi said. He added that the past five years as Wayanad MP had been a “wonderful and very enjoyable experience”.
“The people of Wayanad stood with me, gave me love and affection, support and energy to fight through a very difficult time. And I will remember that for the rest of my life,” he said.
Gandhi smiled and said “Dhamki Dee hai as party president (he threatened as party president)”.
Kharge added that a decision will be made soon.
The political implications of the decision were discussed in a marathon meeting before the venue was officially announced. Apart from the Gandhi siblings, the meeting was attended by Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary (Organization) K.C. Venugopal.
“According to the law, he (Mr. Gandhi) has to give up one seat and he can continue with one seat. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last date to do so. The party decided that Rahul Gandhi should retain the Rae Barel seat. The Gandhi family has been contesting from their seat for generations and the people of Rae Bareli as well as our party workers believe that this is good for the party, Kharge said.
Gandhi contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Rae Barel after his mother Sonia Gandhi left the electoral fray to settle in the Rajya Sabha. Since 2004, he has represented this place for five seasons. Since the first general elections, the Congress has now won Rae Bareli 18 times and the top seat was represented by late Feroze Gandhi, grandfather of Mr. Rahul Gandhi. His grandmother, the late former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, represented the seat three times.
Family legacy aside, the party reckons that by retaining the Rae Barel seat in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi will strengthen the Congress’s alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. And with Mrs. Vadra in the Lok Sabha, the opposition has a clear voice in its ranks.
“People’s voice is much louder with @RahulGandhi and @priyankagandhi in Parliament,” Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said on social media X.
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