In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi emerged victorious from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, marking his return to Parliament after his defeat in Amethi against BJP's Smriti Irani.
According to a report by News18, there are indications that Rahul Gandhi might opt to relinquish the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming general elections. Instead, he is considering contesting from either Karnataka or Telangana, in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Having contested and secured victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad for the first time, Rahul Gandhi encountered an unexpected setback in Amethi, losing to BJP's Smriti Irani.
The report suggests that the decision to potentially vacate the Wayanad constituency stems from pressure exerted by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which seeks an additional seat beyond the existing two allocations. Given the significant Muslim electorate in the area, the IUML is keen on fielding its candidate from Wayanad.
Complicating matters further, the Communist Party of India (CPI), a key rival of Congress in Kerala within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), has nominated candidates for four Lok Sabha seats in the state, including Wayanad. This move poses a challenge as the CPI is an ally of the Congress at the national level as part of the opposition INDIA bloc.
Annie Raja, a senior leader of the CPI and the wife of party general secretary D Raja, has been put forward as the candidate for the Wayanad constituency, which is currently held by Rahul Gandhi.
The News18 report also underscores concerns within the INDIA bloc regarding the optics of one of their prominent leaders' spouses contesting against Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Amethi could witness yet another high-profile electoral battle between Rahul Gandhi and Smriti Irani, following Congress' seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Both leaders were present in Amethi last Monday, hinting at a potential rematch.
Although Rahul Gandhi has remained non-committal about his re-contest from Amethi against Smriti Irani, he launched a scathing critique against the BJP for its failure to extend an invitation to President Droupadi Murmu for the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. He argued that this exemplified the BJP's disregard for OBCs, Dalits, tribals, and minorities.
In response, Smriti Irani pointed out the lack of enthusiasm for Rahul's Nyay Yatra in Amethi, citing it as evidence of public discontent against those who declined the Ram temple invitation. She also remarked on the Gandhi family's decision to vacate the Rae Bareli seat.
