Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party unveiled its initial list of 39 candidates on Friday, a roster that notably features former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. However, the much-anticipated announcement regarding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's candidacy, particularly from Rae Bareli, the constituency traditionally contested by her mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, remained unresolved.
Remarkably, the released list refrained from mentioning either Rae Bareli or Amethi, the seat Rahul Gandhi previously held before losing to BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019. Instead, it confirmed Rahul Gandhi's candidacy from Wayanad, a constituency in Kerala that he secured victory in during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, regarded as a secure stronghold for him.
Sonia Gandhi, opting out of contesting from Rae Bareli, a stronghold of the Gandhi-Nehru family in Uttar Pradesh, chose to become a member of the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Consequently, speculation arose regarding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's potential candidacy from Rae Bareli.
The suspense surrounding her debut in the Lok Sabha elections and her prospective candidacy from Rae Bareli persisted with the Congress's initial list remaining silent on the Uttar Pradesh seat.
The initial Congress list of candidates spans across various states, encompassing constituencies from Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, and Lakshadweep.
Notably, the candidates from Chhattisgarh include former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is set to contest from Rajnandgaon, along with the former Chhattisgarh home minister, who secured a place on the list and will contest from Mahasamund.
