Sensing a defeat in his bastion of Amethi, Uttar Pradesh against Union Minister Smriti Irani, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has decided to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Congress has finally arrived at a decision regarding Congress President Rahul Gandhi contesting two seats ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader AK Antony said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad in Kerala apart from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
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Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi has chosen a constituency in Kerala, which accounts for more than half of minority votes, while Hindus are in minority. The speculations of him contesting from a minority constituency was on the cards as some of the senior Congress leaders had hinted that Rahul Gandhi might find it hard to secure a victory in Hindu majority constituency like Amethi. This, despite Rahul Gandhi indulging in ‘soft-Hindutva’ politics by visiting temples and claiming to ‘Janeudhari’ Brahmin.
Amethi, the Nehru-Gandhi Parivar bastion, was inherited by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, but his victory against Smriti Irani seemed to doubtful as she enjoys substantial goodwill in the constituency. Smriti Irani has received a lot of praise for her works in the Amethi, which prompted the BJP to field again her from the prestigious constituency against Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi despite her loss in the 2014 elections. As Smriti Irani’s acceptability in Amethi has grown in the last few years, Congress party believes that it is extremely tough for Rahul Gandhi to retain his seat.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi was reportedly looking for a safe seat as Congress party believes that winning Amethi against Union Minister Smriti Irani will be a herculean task for Rahul Gandhi. Hence, Congress Party is on a contingency plan to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which has 29% Muslim votes and another 21% Christian votes.