Hours after asserting that Rahul Gandhi would "definitely" contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai appeared to qualify his statement and said this was the demand of the people of the constituency. Mr Rai was named the state Congress president yesterday.
Answering a reporter's question earlier in the day, the new state chief said, "Rahul Gandhi will definitely contest the Lok Sabha election from Amethi, the people of Amethi are here."
When he was asked the same question hours later, however, Mr Rai's answer was a little different. "The Congress workers and people of Amethi are demanding that they want to correct their mistake and ensure a huge victory for Rahul Gandhi," he said.
Prodded further and asked whether Mr Gandhi wanted to contest from the seat, he reiterated, "This is the demand of the people and the workers."
In a huge upset, Mr Gandhi, who had been elected as an MP from the family bastion of Amethi thrice since 2004, had lost to the BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019. He had contested from Wayanad in Kerala as well, and won by a big margin.
Mr Rai claimed the people of Amethi are now upset. "Smriti Irani had promised them sugar at Rs 13 a kg if they voted for her and the BJP. They are now wondering where that sugar went."
Earlier in the day, Mr Rai - who had contested unsuccessfully against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Polls - had also said, "If Priyanka Gandhi says she wishes to contest from Varanasi, every single worker will work wholeheartedly for her."
Mr Rai was appointed the Congress Uttar Pradesh president yesterday and had replaced Dalit leader Brijlal Khabri.
Rahul Gandhi Faces Delhi Police Crime Branch Probe Over Parliament Tussle "Rahul Gandhi Obsessed With Businessman, Stalled Parliament": Kiren Rijiju To NDTV "Pushing Around An MP Not 'Mardangi'": Kiren Rijiju's Swipe At Rahul Gandhi Devendra Fadnavis Keeps Home, Eknath Shinde Gets 3 Maharashtra Ministries Parents On Mumbai Ferry Wanted To Toss Children In Sea. Rescuers Stopped Them Saudi Suspect In German Attack Held Strongly Anti-Islam Views: Report Trump Picks Mark Burnett, 'Apprentice' Producer, As Special Envoy To UK Indian Railways To Recruit For 1,036 Posts, Check Details Here Himachal Invokes Kyoto Protocol To Demand GST Compensation From Centre Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.