The Congress party is poised to put an end to the suspense surrounding the selection of Lok Sabha candidates for the prestigious Amethi and Raebareli constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. With the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) authorizing Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to make the decision, an announcement is expected within the next 24 hours, revealed party leader Jairam Ramesh.
"There's no fear, no one is backing down," asserted Ramesh, indicating the party's determination to address the issue decisively.
The Congress had kept the suspense alive regarding the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies, refraining from naming candidates for these crucial seats in the latest list of nominations for the Lok Sabha polls released recently.
Congress activists in Amethi had staged a protest yesterday over the delay in the announcement, with chants of "Amethi demands the Gandhi family" echoing outside the party office.
Speculation has been rife regarding the potential candidacy of former president Rahul Gandhi, who suffered a surprising defeat to the BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019, from Amethi again. There are suggestions that he might contest from both Amethi and Kerala's Wayanad, mirroring his strategy in the previous Lok Sabha elections.
Similarly, for Raebareli, which has been held by Sonia Gandhi since 2004, the name circulating is that of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Her electoral debut is anticipated to invigorate party workers.
Addressing the speculation surrounding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla emphasized that the decision would be made by the CEC. "The Gandhi family enjoys immense popularity, with crowds flocking to their public gatherings. The decision now rests with the CEC," Shukla affirmed, underscoring the party's commitment to an inclusive and democratic decision-making process.