NEW DELHI:
Congress
leader
Rahul Gandhi
on Friday filed his papers from Uttar Pradesh’s
Rae Bareli
constituency. The Congress leader was flanked by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge,
Sonia Gandhi
and Priyanka Gandhi.
Earlier, the Congress ended the suspense over
Amethi
and Rae Bareli, announcing Rahul’s candidature from the seat held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades.
The BJP had announced Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate from Rae Bareli. He had lost to Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The Congress has also fielded Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency.
Meanwhile, the BJP has accused Gandhi of “betraying” the people of
Wayanad
by deciding to contest the ongoing election from Rae Bareli as well.
Here’s who said what:
PM Modi’s ‘daro mat’ jibe at Rahul Gandhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked Rahul Gandhi for “dropping” Amethi and claimed that the Congress leader is seeking another seat due to the fear of defeat in Wayanad.
“I had already told you that the prince is looking for another seat for himself due to fear of defeat in Wayanad. Now he had to run away from Amethi and choose the Rae Bareli seat,” said PM Modi
PM added “These people go around and tell everyone – Daro Mat! Don’t be afraid! I would say the same thing to them – Daro mat! Bhago mat! don’t be afraid! Do not run!” drawing loud cheers from the audience with his sarcastic remark aimed at the Congress leader.
‘Rae Bareli is not a legacy but a responsibility, a duty’: Congress
Amidst uproar over Rahul Gandhi’s announcement from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh characterized it as a well-strategised move by the party. He emphasised that other aspects of the decision are yet to unfold.
In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote, “Many people have many opinions on the news of Rahul Gandhi contesting elections from Rae Bareli. But he is a seasoned player of politics and chess. He makes his moves after careful consideration. The party leadership has taken this decision after a lot of deliberation and strategy. This decision has devastated the BJP, its supporters and sycophants.”
He further added, “Rae Bareli has not only been Sonia ji’s seat but also Indira Gandhi’s seat. This isn’t just a legacy but a responsibility, a duty.”
Sonia Gandhi has unsuccessfully tried launching ‘Rahul Baba’ twenty times: Amit Shah
“Modi ji made one attempt, and Chandrayaan (mission to the Moon) was launched successfully. Sonia Gandhi has attempted to launch this ‘yaan’ called Rahul Baba (Rahul Gandhi) twenty times, but her attempts have not been successful. Today, for the twenty-first time, evading Amethi, he has filed his nomination from Rae Bareli,” said Union home minister Amit Shah regarding Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy in Rae Bareli.
Those who run away from battle want to lead country: Rajnath Singh’s swipe at Rahul
Mocking Rahul Gandhi as someone who evades the battlefield, defence minister Rajnath Singh targeted him for shifting his Lok Sabha constituency to Rae Bareli, suggesting that he lacked the courage to contest from Amethi. In a public meeting, the senior BJP leader said that individuals like Rahul Gandhi aspire to lead the country, insinuating at the former Congress president. Singh claimed that many Congress leaders wanted Rahul to contest from Amethi, but he chose to flee.
Expressing his concern, Singh wryly added, “I am concerned that he may be given a different name after running away from this battle.”
Congress has accepted defeat, says Smriti Irani
Smriti Irani, the contender who wrested Amethi from Rahul Gandhi, took a dig at the Congress leader for his candidacy in Rae Bareli, stating, “The one who was rejected by Amethi and fled to Wayanad will never truly belong to Rae Bareli.”
She further asked, “Moreover, the question arises: in Wayanad, he claimed it to be his family. Now, what will he assert in Rae Bareli today?”
The sitting MP from Amethi emphaised the absence of the “Gandhi family” in Amethi this time and stated, “The absence of the Gandhi family from the election fray in Amethi indicates that the Congress party has acknowledged its defeat in Amethi even before the polling on the seat.”
