After much speculation and suspense, the Congress party has announced its candidacy for the Amethi seat, choosing Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family. This decision has been seen as a sign of defeat by the Congress party, with Smriti Irani, the BJP candidate and current MP from Amethi, already claiming victory. In a surprising move, Rahul Gandhi has been fielded for the Raebareli seat, which his mother Sonia Gandhi held.
Battle for Amethi: Smriti Irani vs. Kishori Lal Sharma
Background:
The Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh has been a stronghold for the Gandhi family for decades. Rahul Gandhi has represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha since 2004. In 2019, he contested from Wayanad in Kerala as well, but retained his seat in Amethi.
However, in the 2019 general election, BJP candidate Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 55,120 votes. This marked a significant shift in the political landscape of Amethi, which had been a Congress bastion for decades.
2024 Candidates:
In the upcoming 2024 general election, the Congress party has announced that Kishori Lal Sharma will be their candidate from Amethi. Sharma is a close aide of the Gandhi family and has served as the party's district president in Amethi.
The BJP has once again nominated Smriti Irani as its candidate. Irani is the incumbent MP from Amethi and has been actively involved in various development projects in the constituency.
Rahul Gandhi's Move:
In a surprise move, Rahul Gandhi will not be contesting from Amethi this time. Instead, he has been fielded for the Raebareli seat, which his mother Sonia Gandhi has held since 2004. This decision has raised speculation about the Congress party's strategy and their chances in Amethi.
Top 5 FAQs:
1. Who are the candidates for the 2024 Amethi election? Answer: Kishori Lal Sharma (Congress) and Smriti Irani (BJP)
2. Why did Rahul Gandhi not contest from Amethi? Answer: The reason for Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Raebareli is not publicly known.
3. What is Smriti Irani's performance as MP? Answer: Irani has been involved in various development projects in Amethi, including the construction of a medical college and a skill development center.
4. What are the chances of the Congress in Amethi? Answer: The Congress has lost significant ground in Amethi in recent years, but they hope to regain it with Sharma as their candidate.
5. What is the significance of Amethi for the Gandhi family? Answer: Amethi has been a symbol of the Gandhi family's political power and legacy. The constituency has been represented by several members of the family, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
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