Rahul Gandhi may contest from Amethi, say Congress sources as deadline ends in hours

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contested from Amethi in 2019 but lost to Smriti Irani

With just hours left for the last day of filing of nominations, the Congress is yet to clear the suspense over its candidate for Amethi and Raebareli - the two seats it has dominated historically.

Congress sources told PTI that Rahul may contest from Amethi - a seat he lost to BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019 - and the decision is expected later tonight.

"I am hopeful that some formal announcement on Congress candidates from Amethi and Rae Bareli is likely to be made today," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

He added that the nomination deadline is 3pm on May 3, indicating that the announcement may even be delayed till tomorrow morning.

Rahul Gandhi, who lost Amethi to Irani in 2019, entered the lower house after winning Wayanad in Kerala. In 2024, he has already contested from Wayanad, which went to polls in the second phase on April 26, but there has been continued uncertainty over his decision to fight from Amethi again.

The sources said the party has started making preparations for the nomination filing in both the seats in Uttar Pradesh, which have been traditionally held by members of the Gandhi-Nehru family.

Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the nomination filing Friday, the sources said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is tasked to finalise the candidate for the two Uttar Pradesh constituencies, met Rahul Gandhi today to convince him to contest, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Congress is also preparing for an alternative plan in case Priyanka Gandhi Vadra refuses to contest from Raebareli.

An NDTV report said that efforts were being made to convince Priyanka to contest from Raebareli - a seat vacated by her mother Sonia Gandhi earlier this year. However, Priyanka was reluctant to contest because she did not want all three members of the Gandhi family in Parliament, which could strengthen the BJP's argument of dynasty politics, NDTV reported.

Both Amethi and Raebareli will go to polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

(With inputs from agencies)