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Rahul Gandhi to Contest Raebareli Seat in India’s General Elections

3 May, Lucknow – India’s main opposition Congress party announced on Friday that Rahul Gandhi, the party’s former president, will run in the general elections from the family stronghold of Raebareli in northern India.

This move underscores their determination to challenge the dominance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The decision is expected to uplift party morale in Uttar Pradesh, a crucial state where the Congress has faced significant setbacks against the BJP and regional parties.

The general elections began on April 19 and will continue in seven phases until June 1, with results to be announced on June 4. Raebareli and Amethi, neighboring constituencies, have long been strongholds for the Gandhi family. However, the Congress party has struggled since losing power to Modi in 2014.

In 2019, while Rahul’s mother Sonia won from Raebareli, Rahul suffered a surprising defeat in Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani. Despite this setback, Rahul entered parliament from Wayanad, Kerala, and is also contesting from there this year. Sonia opted out of contesting from Raebareli, choosing instead to enter the upper house of parliament indirectly.

There were speculations about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia’s daughter, making her electoral debut from Raebareli, while Rahul would focus on Amethi. India permits candidates to contest multiple seats, but they can retain only one if they win in multiple constituencies.

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