Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh – Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has conveyed an emotional message to the voters of her Rae Bareli constituency, revealing that she will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to health and age concerns. The 77-year-old leader, who has represented Rae Bareli since 2004, shared her decision a day after filing her nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan. In her message, Sonia Gandhi also hinted at the possibility of a family member entering the Rae Bareli political arena.
“I am proud to say that whatever I am today, I am because of you, and I have always done my best to honour your trust. Now, on account of health and age issues, I will not contest the next Lok Sabha election,” Sonia Gandhi expressed in the heartfelt message in Hindi. “After this decision, I will not have the opportunity to serve you directly, but my heart and soul will always remain with you. I know that you will stand by me and my family in the future, just as you have in the past,” she continued.
Speculation has risen regarding the potential candidacy of Sonia Gandhi’s daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency. The announcement comes as the Congress party faces challenges in Uttar Pradesh, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala suggesting a formal disassociation of the Gandhi family from the state. Poonawala stated, “One thing is clear with this nomination that the Gandhi family will no longer formally have any association with Uttar Pradesh…Uttar Pradesh nurtured the family politically.”
Notably, both Amethi and Rae Bareli were historically strongholds for the Congress; however, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi lost his constituency, Amethi, to BJP’s Smriti Irani. Poonawala pointed out the Congress’s apprehension about losing Rae Bareli, emphasizing the changing political landscape in the state.
Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Bhardwaj criticized the Congress, alleging silence on issues of crimes against women during their governance in the state. Bhardwaj asserted, “The Congress party has been ruling Rajasthan for five years and committed atrocities against people, especially women. Rajasthan has reached the number one position in terms of crimes against women. Sonia Gandhi maintained silence on it. She kept protecting the Rajasthan government despite grave failures.”
As Sonia Gandhi announces her decision, the political landscape in Rae Bareli awaits further developments, including the potential entry of a new family member into the electoral arena.
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