New Delhi: Ending weeks of suspense, the Congress party announced on Monday, June 17, that Rahul Gandhi will retain the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh and will relinquish the Wayanad seat in Kerala. Making her electoral debut, Priyanka Gandhi will contest the bypoll from Wayanad.
The announcement came after Congress’ top leadership on Monday held discussions at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence.
Rahul Gandhi, who won from both Rae Bareli and Wayanad in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, had 14 days before him (from the day of election results, June 4) to decide on which seat to retain as per the provisions of the Representation of People Act. The deadline ends on Tuesday, June 18.
“Rahul Gandhi was elected from two (Lok Sabha) seats. As per rules, he will have to vacate one seat and continue on one seat. Since June 18 is the last date, we have decided that Rahul should keep his Rae Bareli seat, since it has been very close to the family since a long time. He has received love from the people of Wayanad, and people there want him to retain the seat but the rules do not allow it. So, after a lot of deliberations, we decided that Priyanka Gandhi should contest from Wayanad, and she has agreed for the same,” Kharge told reporters.
Rahul Gandhi said it was a tough decision for him to choose between the seats, for he has an “emotional connection” with the people of both Wayanad and Rae Bareli.
“I was the Wayanad MP for the last five years and people of Wayanad gave me love, for which I thank them. Priyanka will contest from Wayanad, but I will continue to visit Wayanad and the promises we made to Wayanad … we will fulfil them. I have a long relation with Rae Bareli and I am very happy that I will be representing it. This was not an easy decision, because affection is with both (Wayanad and Raebareli),” said Rahul Gandhi.
I have an emotional relationship with Raebareli and the people of Wayanad.
In the last 5 years, the people of Wayanad stood with me and gave me energy to fight in a very difficult time.
I will stand by the commitments that we’ve made. We will deliver on those commitments.
AdvertisementI’m… pic.twitter.com/gT4cZtCQOb
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 17, 2024
Priyanka Gandhi who will make her electoral debut said, “I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. All I can say is that I won’t let them (people) feel his (Rahul Gandhi’s) absence. As he said, he will come many times with me but I will work hard and I will try to make everyone happy and be a good representative. I have a special connection with Rae Bareli. I have worked for 20 years in both Rae Bareli and Amethi.”
Rahul Gandhi was first elected to Wayanad in 2019, securing his position in the parliament when he lost Amethi to Smriti Irani.
