Priyanka Gandhi and Indira Gandhi
As soon as Congress announced its decision regarding Rae Bareli and Wayanad seats, Congress workers from Rae Bareli to Wayanad burst into celebrations and fireworks started. Congress took a big decision and announced that Rahul Gandhi will leave Wayanad Lok Sabha seat of Kerala and will remain MP from Rae Bareli in UP. Priyanka Gandhi will now contest from Wayanad in place of Rahul. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that since the Gandhi-Nehru family has an old relation with Rae Bareli seat, Rahul will remain MP from Rae Bareli seat and Priyanka Gandhi will not let the people of Wayanad feel the absence of Rahul.
Indira Gandhi returned to power through the South
Let us tell you that the Gandhi family has a long history of contesting elections from South India. Former PM Indira Gandhi started it when she won the election from Chikmagalur in 1978. After this, Indira Gandhi became MP from Medak in 1980. After the Emergency, when it seemed difficult for Indira Gandhi to make a comeback from Rae Bareli seat, the Chikmagalur seat of Karnataka worked as a lifesaver for her political life. In the 1978 by-election, a safe seat was searched for her. This seat was Chikmagalur seat of Karnataka. The seat was vacated by the sitting MP DB Gowda, here Indira had to face CM Virendra Patil.
It is said that Indira Gandhi herself campaigned for 17 to 18 hours for this by-election. The election result came in favour of the Congress and Indira Gandhi won by 77 thousand votes and 26 candidates standing against her lost their deposits.
Sonia Gandhi became MP from Bellary
After Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi became MP from Bellary in Karnataka in 1999. However, she later left this seat. Rahul Gandhi became MP from Wayanad seat in Kerala in 2019 and 2024 and now Priyanka Gandhi is entering electoral politics from Wayanad. The decision of Rahul to keep the Rae Bareli seat and field Priyanka from Wayanad is a big decision for the Congress because on one hand Priyanka is making her electoral debut. Secondly, if she wins the election, both the siblings will fight the BJP together in Parliament for the first time. Priyanka has been active in politics for a long time but is stepping into electoral politics for the first time. Till now she has been helping mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi in contesting elections. With this, if she wins from Wayanad, Congress can also create a good balance between North and South India.
BJP attacks Rahul-Priyanka
On the other hand, BJP has accused Congress of nepotism for Rahul keeping the Rae Bareli seat and making Priyanka contest from Wayanad. Former UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma said that Congress knows that if Rahul leaves the Rae Bareli seat, he will not be able to win the election again. On the other hand, BJP leader Ajay Alok accused Rahul of running away from Wayanad.
‘Congress will be stronger in UP with Rahul’
Rahul Gandhi said that it was not easy for him to choose between Wayanad and Rae Bareli. He has chosen Rae Bareli but he will not forget Wayanad. Along with Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi also said that now both the brother and sister will serve the people of Rae Bareli and Wayanad together. Congress is actually working on the future strategy with Rahul keeping the Rae Bareli seat. Rae Bareli seat is the traditional seat of the Gandhi family. Rahul’s grandfather Feroze Gandhi, grandmother Indira Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi have contested elections on this seat. UP Congress President Ajay Rai said that with Rahul Gandhi keeping the Rae Bareli seat, Congress will become stronger in UP. Congress and India alliance will fight well in the future including the 2027 assembly elections.
On the other hand, Annie Raja, who is contesting against Rahul from LDF, said that giving ticket to Priyanka Gandhi was an internal decision of her party and said that the alliance will decide who will contest against Priyanka from the Left from that seat.
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