In Uttar Pradesh, amidst the suspense over whom Congress will field in their bastion of Amethi, a statement from Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Vadra, has stirred the political pot. Vadra has expressed that the people of Amethi wish to see him as their MP and he stands ready to challenge Smriti Irani if given the opportunity.
Vadra's declaration has intensified the debate on Congress's ticket from Amethi. Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai stated that their preference is to have Rahul Gandhi contest from Amethi. The mystery surrounding Vadra's candidature and Rahul's potential candidacy raises the question: why is Congress hesitating to finalize the Amethi ticket?
Why is Congress Hesitant on Deciding for Amethi?
Vadra's statement has shifted the direction of the debate. Now, the question arises whether Congress is considering Vadra as their candidate for Rahul's seat. In the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi lost the Amethi seat to the BJP's Smriti Irani but was victorious in Kerala's Wayanad. Gandhi is contesting from Wayanad again where he faces BJP’s K. Surendran and the Left’s Annie Raja.
In Wayanad, the Left is trying to establish the narrative that Rahul will also contest from Amethi and vacate the Wayanad seat if victorious. If Congress announces Rahul Gandhi's Amethi candidacy before the voting in Wayanad, it could play into the Left's hands. Congress might be strategically maintaining the Amethi suspense until the Wayanad voting is over.
What does Vadra's Statement Mean for Congress?
Regardless of whether Vadra is given a ticket, his comments about Amethi have played to Congress's advantage in two ways. The focus has shifted from whether Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi to Vadra, which could blunt opposition strategies targeting Rahul in Wayanad. This also sends a message in Uttar Pradesh that the Gandhi family is not relinquishing the Amethi field and will either contest themselves or by a relative.
Will Rahul Gandhi Run for Amethi?
UP Congress President Ajay Rai and other leaders maintain that Rahul Gandhi should contest from Amethi, suggesting both necessity and compulsion for Congress. Abandoning Amethi could send a negative message beyond Uttar Pradesh. Thus, it's possible that after the Wayanad polling, Congress may announce Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy for Amethi.
Voting for the Wayanad seat is scheduled for April 26 in the second phase, while the Amethi vote will take place in the fifth phase. The nomination process for the fifth phase seats will commence on April 26 and run until May 3. Hence, Congress appears in no rush to finalize their Amethi candidate.
Amethi to Cast Votes on May 20
The nomination process for Amethi will span from April 26 to May 3. Nomination papers will be examined on May 4, and the deadline to withdraw nominations is May 6. The Lok Sabha election for the fifth phase, which includes Amethi, will have voting on May 20, with the results being announced on June 4.
