Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi continues to maintain a stoic silence on party's general secretary from eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's candidature from the Varanasi parliamentary seat for the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
In an interview with The Hindu, Rahul was asked whether Priyanka would contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Varanasi seat; to which he neither confirmed nor denied the development.
Rahul Gandhi, instead, said he would like to maintain the "suspense" over the matter.
“I will leave you in suspense. Suspense is not always a bad thing!,” he told The Hindu.
When asked if he was denying her candidature from the constituency, he said, "I'm not confirming or denying anything.”
Priyanka Gandhi had earlier raised speculation regarding contesting from Varanasi. On March 28, urged by Congress workers to contest from Raebareli, she said, "Why not Varanasi?"
On April 16, Robert Vadra said that Priyanka was ready to fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.
“Priyanka is ready to fight from Varanasi. She is ready for whatever party decides. People of the country want change. They want a new leader,” Robert Vadra told reporters.
PM Modi is all set to file nomination from Varanasi, on April 26. PM Modi, who is seeking a second term from Varanasi, will also hold a roadshow in Varanasi on April 25, a day ahead of filing his nomination papers.
Voting in Varanasi will be held May 19. Election results will be declared on May 23.
Polling in Uttar Pradesh is being held in seven phases.
