In a captivating development within India's political scenery, Congress nominees have registered their candidatures for the high-profile Lok Sabha seats of Amethi and Raebareli. Former MP representative Kishori Lal Sharma has opted for Amethi, while Rahul Gandhi marks his electoral foray into Raebareli. This strategic shift heralds Rahul's first departure from Amethi since 2004, abandoning a seat he represented three times and faced defeat in the last election.
The decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli has sparked a flurry of political discourse, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching fierce critiques. BJP's Smriti Irani interprets this move as a pre-emptive admission of Congress's defeat in Amethi. Meanwhile, critical voices like Anurag Thakur have highlighted the aura of fear underlying Rahul Gandhi's transition from Amethi, through Wayanad, to Raebareli.
The hot-button topic dominating discussions revolves around the rationale behind Rahul Gandhi's candidacy from Raebareli, setting aside his long-standing bastion of Amethi.
The Traditional Seat of the Gandhi-Nehru Family
Raebareli holds an enduring legacy as the Gandhi-Nehru family's traditional stronghold, a lineage tracing back from Feroze Gandhi to Indira Gandhi, Arun Nehru, and Sonia Gandhi. With Sonia Gandhi now serving in the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, there's been an escalating demand at the local level for a family member to step into this stronghold.
After Sonia Gandhi's Rajya Sabha election, she penned an emotive letter to the citizens of Raebareli, subtly hinting at the continuation of the family's involvement in this constituency. Congress's UP chief, Ajay Rai, affirmed the candidacy would belong to a family member, emphasizing the sentimental attachment to this heritage seat.
Reluctance of Priyanka Gandhi to Contest
Apart from Feroze and Indira Gandhi, Amethi has historically served as the electoral debut pad for other Gandhi-Nehru family members—from Sanjay Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. With speculations on Priyanka Gandhi's political initiation running high, many anticipated Congress might launch her from Amethi. However, such expectations fell through as Priyanka Gandhi refrained from entering the electoral fray.
According to political analyst Rashid Kidwai, during the seat-sharing talks between SP and Congress in UP, Akhilesh Yadav had proposed that at least one Gandhi sibling must contest from UP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Raebareli as a More Secure Alternative to Amethi
Congress has historically contested from Amethi with Rahul Gandhi experiencing defeat at the hands of Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections. This time around, Raebareli was chosen as a safer electoral harbor due to its historical significance and perceived greater security compared to the old seat, Amethi.
Congress's internal surveys in Raebareli and Amethi indicated that a family candidacy in Raebareli was almost certain to succeed, whereas Amethi remained ambivalent over election outcomes.
Wayanad Takes Precedence Over Amethi in Electoral Calculus
Amidst electoral calculations, Rahul Gandhi's potential victory in both Amethi and Kerala's Wayanad would have led to a conundrum, forcing him to choose between the two. Wayanad's choice became inevitable after the region warmly welcomed him at a time when Amethi's support wavered.
Raebareli and Wayanad, both potential winners, would enable Rahul Gandhi to choose based on the strategic importance and the invincible fortress narrative. A choice between Raebareli and Wayanad might open a path for someone like Priyanka Gandhi in an eventual by-election, yet this tactic surely escalates the stakes and complexity for Congress.
Concentrated Efforts to Maintain Presence in Uttar Pradesh
Congress aims to assert its presence in UP, a challenge exacerbated by the significant loss of seats from previous victories. With the sole win in Raebareli by Sonia Gandhi in 2019 and Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi, Congress avoids risking an outsider candidacy in the Gandhi family heartland.
