Lok Sabha Election 2024: Rae Bareli-Amethi Nomination Deadline Nears | Why Still A Suspense?

The suspense regarding possible candidates for Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha seats, maintained by the Congress, is turning into a political puzzle that may need to be solved by most political leaders or commentators. When the suspense finally ends, it is anticipated that a surprise may be revealed.

A recent statement by Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge to a news channel hinted at potential surprises in Rae Bareli and Amethi.

Rae Bareli-Amethi Nomination Suspense | Will It End Today?

While speaking on the matter, Kharge suggested that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might contest the 2024 polls from these Congress bastions, historically represented by the Gandhi family until the 2019 elections when Rahul Gandhi lost to Union Minister Smriti Irani.

As the voting day for Rae Bareli and Amethi approaches on May 20, there are merely four days left for the filing of nomination papers (ending on May 3), as reported by Hindustan Times.

Sonia Gandhi, who was the sole Congress MP to win a Lok Sabha seat from U.P. in 2019, has opted for the Rajya Sabha route from Rajasthan. In a letter dated February 14, 2024, addressed to the people of Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi indicated, "I will not contest the next Lok Sabha election due to advancing age and health reasons... I am sure you will take care of me and my family in difficult times as you have been doing up to now," as per media reports.

Sonia's appeal, urging the people to take care of her family, has been interpreted as an indication that a member of the Gandhi family will contest the polls.

Rae Bareli District Congress Committee president Pankaj Tiwari stated, "Yes, Sonia Gandhi's letter provides enough indication that a member of the Gandhi family will contest the polls. We are confident that either Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi will contest from this seat."

Deepak Singh, a senior Congress leader from Amethi and former MLC, also expressed certainty that either Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi will contest from Amethi, as reported by Hindustan Times.

While various possibilities with permutations and combinations are being discussed, party leaders mention that the suspense will be cleared in a day or two. The BJP, having fielded Union Minister Smriti Irani from Amethi again, is closely monitoring the Congress's decisions and may decide its candidate based on the Congress's choice in Rae Bareli.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav added a new perspective when he hinted that Rahul Gandhi might contest from Uttar Pradesh. Responding to whether Rahul Gandhi would contest from Amethi, Akhilesh Yadav stated, "Everyone will come now, the gathering will be in Uttar Pradesh only," as per media reports.

During the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance's first press conference in Ghaziabad on April 17, Rahul Gandhi mentioned that the Congress Central Election Committee would decide on the party's candidates for Rae Bareli and Amethi, and he would follow the party's decision on this matter.

Several senior U.P. Congress leaders, speaking anonymously, discussed various possibilities, including Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi contesting from Rae Bareli or Amethi. They also considered the possibility of only one of the two leaders contesting from U.P. or both leaders opting out of the fray.

Professor SK Dwivedi, former head of the political science department at Lucknow University, highlighted the significance of Rae Bareli and Amethi for the Congress. He suggested potential scenarios where Priyanka Gandhi may contest from Rae Bareli and Rahul Gandhi from Amethi, indicating that the BJP would determine its candidate for Rae Bareli after the Congress announces its decision publicly.