Lucknow: 43-year-old Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is all set to file his nomination to be re-elected as an MP from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.
In what will be the toughest election in his decade-old political career, Mr Gandhi, for the first time, will face candidates who are pulling no punches to bring him down in his family bastion.
The BJP's Smriti Irani has been hand-picked by the BJP to do whatever it takes to spoil this election for Mr Gandhi. She openly flaunts her outsider status in the constituency and says that she is no different from the Gandhis who were neither born in Amethi or Rae Bareli. (Watch: Battle for Amethi - will 2014 throw up a surprise?)
Aam Aadmi Party candidate Kumar Vishwas says that Mr Gandhi is the biggest living example of dynastic politics and contesting against him is the best way to demonstrate his AAP's anti-dynasty policy. (Watch)
Both Ms Irani and Mr Vishwas have openly challenged Mr Gandhi to a development debate in Amethi. But so far he has refused.
The district Congress has made elaborate arrangements, including 500 kg of flowers, to welcome Mr Gandhi in Amethi. "We will welcome Rahul Gandhi with rose petals. All Congress workers are very excited about his nomination," said Yogendra Mishra, district Congress president.
Mr Gandhi he will be accompanied by his sister Priyanka, who recently told NDTV that she will actively campaign only for her brother and mother. (Read more)
As campaign manager, it is Priyanka who has to ensure that Rahul's more than 3.5 lakh winning margin is not breached. (India Votes: full coverage)
In what will be the toughest election in his decade-old political career, Mr Gandhi, for the first time, will face candidates who are pulling no punches to bring him down in his family bastion.
The BJP's Smriti Irani has been hand-picked by the BJP to do whatever it takes to spoil this election for Mr Gandhi. She openly flaunts her outsider status in the constituency and says that she is no different from the Gandhis who were neither born in Amethi or Rae Bareli. (Watch: Battle for Amethi - will 2014 throw up a surprise?)
Both Ms Irani and Mr Vishwas have openly challenged Mr Gandhi to a development debate in Amethi. But so far he has refused.
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Mr Gandhi he will be accompanied by his sister Priyanka, who recently told NDTV that she will actively campaign only for her brother and mother. (Read more)
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