Congress president Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, a Gandhi bastion in Uttar Pradesh he has represented for the last 14 years. Rahul Gandhi undertook a 3-km road show from Munshiganj-Darpipur to Gauriganj, the administrative headquarters of Amethi, before filing the nomination. He was accompanied by his sister and the party's east UP in charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and his mother and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha lawmaker Sonia Gandhi. For the second consecutive time, Rahul Gandhi will face the BJP's Smriti Irani, who is likely to file her nomination papers a day later on Thursday. Last Thursday, Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad in Kerala and said he was contesting from a seat in south India as well to send a message of unity. The Congress president's decision to contest from a second seat has bolstered the BJP's charge that Rahul Gandhi is "running away" because he is unsure of his prospects in Amethi. Amethi goes to polls in the fifth phase on May 6.
Here are the highlights from Rahul Gandhi's nomination filing from Amethi:
- I want to directly challenge that the Supreme Court has said that you (PM Modi) have indulged in corruption
- I want to thank the Supreme Court. It's a very happy day. The top court has talked about justice. Justice has prevailed
- The Supreme Court has accepted that there is some corruption in Rafale. It has made it clear that 'chowkidarji' (watchman) has committed a theft
- I am happy and I have been saying so for months that India's PM has given the air force money to (industrialist) Anil Ambani, and the Supreme Court has accepted it. The Supreme Court is going to investigate it
- Come let's debate... Country wants to know about corruption, Rafale deal, demonetisation and (BJP president) Amit Shah's son
Sonia Gandhi arrives at District Collector office in Amethi, where Congress President Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination for #LokSabhaElections2019 . pic.twitter.com/zXEXlnxTAA
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 10, 2019
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives in Amethi. He will file his nomination for #LokSabhaElections2019 from the Lok Sabha constituency today. pic.twitter.com/CywtKeQwCN
- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 10, 2019
