Amethi, Uttar Pradesh – Union Minister Smriti Irani has thrown down the gauntlet to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, challenging him to contest from his former stronghold of Amethi in the upcoming 2024 elections. The dare comes as Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Uttar Pradesh today.
Addressing the media during a Jan Samwad in Amethi, Smriti Irani remarked, “In 2019, he left Amethi, and today Amethi has left him. If he is confident, then without going to Wayanad (Gandhi’s current constituency), let him fight from Amethi.” Irani, who won against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi by a margin of around 55,000 votes in the 2019 elections, pointed out the noticeable change in Amethi’s political landscape.
“Amethi’s empty roads tell us what they feel about Rahul Gandhi,” Irani commented, emphasizing the shift in the political dynamics of the region, once considered a Congress stronghold.
Uttar Pradesh, with its 80 parliamentary seats, holds significant importance in national politics. In the 2019 elections, the Congress managed to secure only one seat – Raebareli, won by Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi faced defeat in Amethi but emerged victorious in Wayanad.
Looking ahead to the 2024 elections, with Sonia Gandhi moving to the Rajya Sabha, the question arises as to who from the Gandhi family will stand from Raebareli. “Nobody imagined the Gandhi family would leave their seat,” Irani remarked, taking aim at the uncertainty surrounding the Congress party’s candidate choice.
The Congress is yet to finalize its candidate for Amethi, with Jairam Ramesh stating, “CEC will decide on who will contest from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi has been an MP from Amethi thrice. It is a very important constituency for the Congress party.”
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a public rally in Babuganj later in the day and will stay overnight in Amethi. The 37th day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will culminate with a public rally featuring Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Babuganj, followed by their journey to Raebareli the next morning. The political landscape in Uttar Pradesh remains dynamic as the electoral battle for key constituencies intensifies.
