'Mother entrusted me with family's 'karmabhoomi'': Rahul after filing nomination
After filing his papers from Raebareli parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that it was an emotional moment for him to submit his nomination from a seat that was held by his mother for 20 years. He said his mother, Sonia Gandhi, had entrusted him with the responsibility of his family's "karmabhoomi" and the opportunity to serve the people of the constituency.
I seek love, blessings of my loved ones: Rahul
In a post on X, Rahul said that the people of Amethi and Raebareli would always be his families. "I am happy that Kishori Lal ji, who has been serving the area for 40 years, will represent the party from Amethi." "In the ongoing fight for justice against injustice, I seek the love and blessings of my loved ones. I am confident that all of you stand with me in this fight to save the Constitution and democracy," he added.
Read Rahul's post here
Amethi, Raebareli to vote on May 20
Earlier in the day, after weeks of deliberations and talks, the Congress named Rahul as its candidate from the traditional Gandhi family seat of Raebareli. In its announcement, the Congress also nominated Kishori Lal Sharma, a prominent figure associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family for more than two decades, as its candidate from Amethi. Both the seats will go to polls on May 20 in the fifth phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections.
Congress's history in Amethi, Raebareli
The two seats have long association with the Nehru-Gandhi family. Former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Indira's son and Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, former party presidents Sonia and Rahul and Congress leaders Feroze Gandhi and Arun Nehru have all got elected from either of these two seats in their political career.
BJP repeats 2019 pick Dinesh Pratap Singh from Raebareli
Rahul represented the Amethi seat from 2004, serving as its MP for three consecutive terms until 2019 when he was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party's Smriti Irani—who is seeking re-election in 2024. Separately, on Thursday, the BJP announced the name of Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh as their candidate for the Raebareli parliamentary constituency. Ahead of the elections, Sonia, the MP for Raebareli, announced that due to health concerns and age, she would not be contesting this time.
