For Amethi, Raebareli, Gandhi Siblings Told To Decide By Tonight: Sources

The suspense over Congress candidates in Amethi and Raebareli has been dialled up a notch, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being given a few more hours to make their decision. Sources said at a meeting this evening, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge suggested that both contest, but left the final decision to them in view of their "knowledge of the ground reality". They are expected to convey their decision to him by tonight. Tomorrow is the last date for filing of nomination.

Sources said Mr Kharge has suggested to Mr Gandhi that the siblings not contesting from the two seats -- their family bastions for decades -- would send a wrong message, not just to party workers but to the Opposition, the ruling coalition and the voters as well. The ramifications will be felt in Uttar Pradesh and the rest of the country.

The party had handed Mr Kharge the responsibility of choosing a candidate, after which he had a meeting with Mr Gandhi in Karnataka.

Sources said Mr Gandhi is expected to make an attempt to win back Amethi, which he lost to the BJP's Union minster Smriti Irani in 2019, after representing it in parliament for three terms.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, though, remains firm on her decision not to contest despite much pressure. There was widespread expectation that she would step into her mother's shoes in Raebareli. Sonia Gandhi has been representing Raebareli in the Lok Sabha since 2004 but this year, she moved to the Rajya Sabha.

The Congress has been delaying the decision on candidates for the two seats for weeks. But now, the time has almost run out. Two days ago, Congress workers went into protest mode in Amethi, seeking a member of the Gandhi family as candidate. Election for both seats is due on May 20, the fifth phase.

There have been reports that Rahul Gandhi may not be interested in contesting from Amethi. A victory would mean that he might have to surrender the Kerala seat, which sent him to the Lok Sabha in 2019.

Party sources hinted that Ms Gandhi Vadra's reluctance stems from the fact that her victory from Raebareli would place all three Gandhi family members in parliament, reinforcing the BJP accusation of dynasty politics.

Elections of 353 seats are due in the remaining five phases. Of these, the Congress is contesting on 330 seats. This is the lowest number of seats the Congress has contested in since Independence. The reason is the united front the Opposition is putting up and many of the seats have been conceded to allies in various states.