Who is Dinesh Pratap Singh, Rahul Gandhi’s BJP rival in Rae Bareli?

BJP candidate from UP's Rae Bareli seat Dinesh Pratap Singh

The 56-year-old MLC made a match of the 2019 election when he reduced Sonia Gandhi’s victory margin from 3.52 lakh in 2014 to 1.67 lakh votes

Congress’ May 3 decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Rae Bareli has thrust Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP in the spotlight, as the contest for the Gandhi bastion truly gets underway with both sides announcing their candidates.

For the 53-year-old Gandhi, this is his first shot at representing Rae Bareli, represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi from 2004 to 2024.

Singh, who is Uttar Pradesh’s minister of state (independent charge) for horticulture, agriculture marketing, agriculture foreign trade and agriculture export, gave Sonia Gandhi a tough fight in the 2019, reducing her victory margin from 3.52 lakh in 2014 to 1.67 lakh votes.

“I would like to thank PM Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and people support…. I am not born in the Gandhi family and know hard work … not born with a silver spoon…,” the 56-year-old was quoted as saying by ANI.

Sounding confident of his chances, Singh said the "farewell of nakli (fake) Gandhis from Rae Bareli was certain. "It is certain that BJP's 'lotus' will bloom, and Congress will lose. I have even fought against four-time MP Sonia Gandhi, so Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi are not important to me. Whichever Gandhi comes to Rae Bareli, they will lose,” Singh, a member of the UP legislative council, said.

Singh, who hails from Gunawar Kamangalpur village in Uttar Pradesh, joined the BJP in 2018. The BJP nominated him to the legislative council after his impressive showing in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and was named a minister when Adityanath won a second term in 2022.

Singh belongs to the Thakur community and his family has influence in Rae Bareli. His brother Rakesh Pratap Singh was once an MLA, while several relatives were chairpersons of the zila panchayat.

Rae Bareli rewind

In 1952, Feroze Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi’ grandfather, was the first from the family to contest from Rae Bareli. Indira Gandhi carried forward the legacy and represented the constituency from 1967 to 1977. In 1980, she won from Rae Bareli and Medak, which is now in Telangana. She chose Medak and resigned from Rae Bareli.

Rae Bareli will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 20.