#Elections2019: Congress President Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Amethi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi has filed his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He was accompanied by his family members, including his mother Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi, and brother-in-law Robert Vadra, as he submitted the nomination papers at the local Collectorate. Rahul Gandhi is also contesting from a second Lok Sabha seat in Kerala's Wayanad. Here's more.
Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Robert Vadra accompany Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi held a roadshow before filing nomination
Rahul Gandhi also held a roadshow before filing the nomination papers from Amethi. Congress leaders Sanjay Singh and Pramod Tiwari were also present at the roadshow. A massive crowd of his supporters gathered and showered flower petals on the party leaders. While Congress party workers danced to drum beats, many people shouted slogans of ''Chowkidar chor hai'.
Unsure of winning Amethi, Rahul Gandhi escaped to Kerala: BJP
Rahul Gandhi had filed his nomination from Wayanad on 4 April. However, BJP criticized the Congress President over his decision to contest from a second Lok Sabha seat, alleging he is unsure of winning in Amethi and had "escaped" to Wayanad. The CPI (M) also accused Congress of trying to weaken the Left forces in the state.
BJP accuses Congress of neglecting Amethi
In Amethi, Rahul Gandhi will take on BJP leader Smriti Irani. In the 2014 LS polls, the Union Minister had lost to Rahul Gandhi with a narrow margin in Amethi. While BJP accused Congress of neglecting Amethi, claiming Irani visited the constituency more than MP Rahul Gandhi, the Congress denied the allegations. Irani also claimed that Gandhi failed to do justice to his constituency.
Will use MP fund for development of villages: Irani
"The then-Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar adopted two villages in Amethi and did more for them than the local MP [Rahul Gandhi]...," said Irani who would file her nomination from Amethi on Thursday. "If I become an MP, I will use my MP fund for development of villages," she said. However, Congress countered Smriti Irani's allegations saying Rahul Gandhi spent Rs. 26.85cr in Amethi.
In Amethi, LS polls will be held on 6 May
Lok Sabha elections in Amethi will be held on 6 May under the fifth phase. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) decided not to field LS candidates from Amethi and Rae Bareli, from where Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi will contest, respectively.
