Rahul Gandhi’s Amethi Comeback Sparks Political Buzz Ahead of 2024 Elections

New Delhi, August 19, 2023: Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai’s declaration that Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will contend from Amethi in the forthcoming 2024 general elections has ignited a flurry of responses, prompting the BJP to accuse the Gandhi-Nehru family of treating the constituency as their personal possession.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi asserted that the Gandhi family regarded Amethi as a chewed-up piece of gum and now seeks absolution with the “family toffee.”

“Congress treated that constituency (Amethi) as their family’s private property and kept chewing the people like chewing gum. Now people won’t forgive them,” Naqvi stated firmly.

He went on to say, “If they think they can get ‘maafi’ for family ‘taaffee’ (toffee), it is not going to happen,” emphasizing the strong sentiment against the Gandhis.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi projected confidence that if Rahul Gandhi contests from Amethi, Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019, will even lose her security deposit.

Congress leader Harish Rawat maintained that while Amethi is Rahul Gandhi’s “natural seat,” he will also run from Wayanad because it stood by him in times of adversity.

The claims and counterclaims have emerged following the recent appointment of the Uttar Pradesh Congress president, who announced on Friday that Rahul Gandhi would compete in the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Amethi.

Reiterating this stance on Saturday, Rai elaborated, “It is the demand of the Congress workers and the public there…Congress workers want to work on their shortcomings to make sure Rahul Gandhi wins from Amethi.” Rai clarified that the final decision on where to contest lies with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi.

Responding to queries about his potential recontest against PM Modi in Varanasi, Rai, who had previously vied for the high-profile seat, left the decision in the hands of the party high command and INDIA bloc.

As the political discourse unfolds, the electoral landscape in Uttar Pradesh braces for intense engagement in the approaching general elections.