As the Lok Sabha elections approach, the Congress party played its cards at the final hour, announcing Rahul Gandhi as the candidate from Raebareli and KL Sharma from Amethi. The much-anticipated list of names is now public, marking a significant shift for Rahul Gandhi, who has traditionally contested from Amethi. This time, the party has opted to change his constituency. Meanwhile, KL Sharma enters the electoral fray for the first time.
Renowned as a close associate of Sonia Gandhi, Sharma has previously served as her parliamentary representative in Raebareli. Voters in Amethi and Raebareli will cast their ballots on May 20 during the fifth phase of the seven-phase general elections. These seats have traditionally been held by members of the Gandhi-Nehru family, making this the first instance of a non-family candidate from Amethi.
With the nomination process for Amethi and Raebareli complete, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is set to attend the proceedings in Raebareli, arriving at 10:30 AM.
Discover KL Sharma: The man taking on Smriti Irani in Amethi's fierce electoral battle
Smriti Irani returns to the Amethi battleground for BJP
BJP MP Smriti Irani is once again contending in Amethi, while BJP has shown faith in Dinesh Pratap Singh for Raebareli for the second time. Singh faced defeat in the 2019 elections, which saw Congress leader Sonia Gandhi triumph in Raebareli.
Election Buzz 2024 LIVE Updates: Rahul Gandhi opts for Raebareli, KL Sharma to fight from Amethi
Leveraging a new strategy in Amethi, Congress has surprised many by fielding the well-connected KL Sharma, hoping to reclaim their stronghold.
Source: aajtak
Rahul Gandhi, the current MP for Wayanad in Kerala, has maintained his parliamentary streak since his initial victory in Amethi in 2004. He has submitted his candidacy from Wayanad, where the voting has already concluded in the second phase.
For this election, the party shifted Rahul Gandhi's constituency in Uttar Pradesh to Raebareli. Insiders speculate that Sonia Gandhi, the head of the Congress Parliamentary Party, may attend his nomination process.
Why is the Raebareli seat critical? In the 2019 elections, this was the lone seat in Uttar Pradesh that Congress secured, with Sonia Gandhi representing it in Parliament. Having reached the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, Sonia Gandhi will not contest in the Lok Sabha elections this time, adhering to her 2019 declaration that it would be her last.
From her victory in Amethi in 1999 after becoming the Congress President to her successive wins from Raebareli beginning in 2004, Sonia Gandhi has been elected to Parliament five times.
