BJP repeats 2019 pick Dinesh Pratap Singh from Raebareli
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced the name of Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh as their candidate for the Raebareli parliamentary constituency.
In the 2019 elections, Singh contested for the same seat but was defeated by the Congress's Sonia Gandhi.
This time, however, Sonia will not be contesting for the seat due to "health concerns and age."
With only one day remaining until the nomination deadline expires, the Congress has still not announced its Raebareli candidate.
Statement
Congress will lose in Raebareli: Singh
After his candidature was announced from Raebareli—the Congress's bastion—Singh said in a statement, "I assure the country that farewell of 'nakli' [fake] Gandhis from Raebareli is certain."
"Whichever Gandhi comes to Raebareli, they will lose," he added.
Notably, Singh has been elected to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council three times, in 2010, 2016, and 2022.
Despite his defeat in the 2019 Raebareli election, Singh set a record for receiving the highest number of votes by any BJP candidate ever.
Candidacy speculation
Rahul and Priyanka likely nominees
There's speculation that Rahul Gandhi might run in Raebareli rather than Amethi.
However, reports suggest that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is eager for the Raebareli seat, pending the party's final decision.
Currently, Rahul represents the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, which he contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Rahul is also seeking re-election from Wayanad—which went to polls in the second phase of the elections.
A decision on whether he will contest from another seat is pending.
Lok Sabha elections
Polling in Raebareli on May 20
Raebareli will go to polls in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is contesting the general elections in alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.
The Congress has been allocated 17 of the 80 seats from UP, including Raebareli, while the rest of the seats will be contested by the SP and other allies.
To recall, UP has the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in the country.