Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, both are unlikely to contest Lok Sabha elections from Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies, sources informed on Thursday. The Congress is brainstorming over picking candidates for the two crucial seats as party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met Rahul in Delhi today. The announcement of Grand Old Party's candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli is expected today.
Earlier, speculations were rife that Congress may end the suspense and field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi against Smriti Irani but the chances of him being fielded is very unlikely now.
With Friday being the last date of filing of nominations, the party is expected to announce its candidates from the two prestigious constituencies tonight.
The sources said the party has started making preparations for the nomination filing in both the seats in Uttar Pradesh, which have been traditionally held by members of the Gandhi-Nehru family. Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the nomination filing on Friday, the sources said.
They also said that the Congress has prepared an alternative plan in case Priyanka Gandhi Vadra does not contest from Rae Bareli, adding a grandson of former Congress leader and Indira Gandhi's aunt Sheila Kaul may be fielded from Rae Bareli.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who were both in Shimoga at a joint poll rally in Karnataka, held discussions over his nomination from Amethi.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh leadership of the Congress has already called upon the Gandhi family to contest both the seats traditionally held by their family. The members of the central election committee has also urged the party leadership to field both Rahul and Priyanka, but the final call has to be taken by the top leadership and the first family of the Congress.
