The Congress party is about to announce their candidates for the important Nehru-Gandhi bastions of Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, following a period of protracted uncertainty. There has been conjecture over Rahul Gandhi’s and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s potential candidacies from these areas. The decision-making process is accelerated by the approaching nomination deadline of this Friday, since these seats are scheduled for polling in the fifth phase on May 20.
Congress Set to End Suspense Over Nehru-Gandhi Seats
The general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, stated during a news conference on Wednesday that a decision on these seats would be made “in the next 24 hours.” The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Congress party has given Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge the authority to select the candidates. Although sources indicate that the Gandhi siblings are reluctant to enter the electoral race, the party leadership wants both Rahul and Priyanka to run in these important seats and has not nominated any other candidates.
Potential Strategies and Challenges
The best approach for these constituents is a topic of discussion in the Congress. Proposing Rahul’s shift to Rae Bareli, some support Priyanka’s candidacy in Amethi, where she would run against incumbent MP and Union minister Smriti Irani. Irani defeated Rahul in Amethi during the 2019 elections, but he also won in Wayanad, a Keralan constituency that was his secondary. Priyanka would be the ninth member of the Nehru-Gandhi family to run for office under the Congress flag if she decides to enter the race. If Priyanka and Rahul win, it will be the first time three Gandhi family members are serving in Parliament at the same time.
Modi’s Campaign Blitz in Gujarat
In his native state of Gujarat, where he is expected to speak at rallies in four constituencies on Thursday—Anand, Surendranagar, Junagadh, and Jamnagar—Prime Minister Narendra Modi is stepping up his election campaign. The BJP is hoping to repeat its electoral victories in Gujarat, where it won all 26 seats in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This is evident in their aggressive campaigning. Gujarat will hold its third phase of voting on May 7. Other well-known BJP leaders are starting their nationwide campaign treks in the meantime. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is now visiting Bareilly, Badaun, and Sitapur seats while on a trip of Uttar Pradesh.
Sunita Kejriwal’s Campaign in Gujarat
Wife of AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita Kejriwal will aggressively campaign for the party’s candidates in Gujarat. The Congress, a partner in the INDIA bloc, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are running in the Bharuch and Bhavnagar seats. In these areas, Sunita Kejriwal is scheduled to take part in roadshows supporting the AAP candidates. In an election environment marked by challenges, the AAP’s presence in Gujarat is a calculated decision. The party’s prior candidates lost their deposits in the 2014 polls, even though it had no candidates in the state for the 2019 elections. Sunita Kejriwal has taken up a pivotal role in leading the AAP’s election campaign, with Arvind Kejriwal presently serving a prison sentence related to a legal issue.
Repolling in Ajmer
A planned re-election at a booth in the Lok Sabha seat of Ajmer highlights the complexities of electoral procedures. Chief Electoral Officer of Rajasthan Praveen Gupta said that a misplaced register was the reason for the need for a repoll. This comes after the constituency’s first voting, which took place on April 26 during the second phase.
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