Advertisement

Updated April 1st, 2019 at 15:15 IST

OFFICIAL: Rahul Gandhi says Yes for two seats, to contest Lok Sabha 2019 polls from Wayanad, apart from Amethi

The Congress party has confirmed that its chief Rahul Gandhi will contest from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, apart from his bastion Amethi, in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2019 polls

Reported by: Narayan R
| Image:self
Advertisement

The Congress party has confirmed that its chief Rahul Gandhi will contest from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, apart from his bastion Amethi, in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2019 polls. 

Reports had suggested that the grand old party was contemplating making the Gandhi scion contest from a 'safe' second seat, owing to the fear of losing from Amethi to Union Minister Smriti Irani, who had ran the elder Gandhi sibling close last time around.

And on Sunday, the party confirmed this development through a press conference, announcing that Rahul Gandhi has accepted party workers' request to fight from South as well. 

Former Defence Minister and senior Congress leader AK Antony informed that following the request made by Congress' Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu units, the party considered the idea and asked Rahul Gandhi about it, who went ahead and said yes.

"Finally, he has given his consent, and now I am happy to inform that Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad in Kerala," said AK Antony in the presence of Randeep Surjewala and many other party leaders.

It was just over a week ago Republic TV learnt that the grand old party's Kerala unit was considering the idea of Gandhi scion fighting from the constituency, which has been vacant since the passing away of MI Shanavas, who had won from the seat in 2014.

"We have requested Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad seat. He has not commented on the request so far. But we expect that there would be a positive response," said All India Congress Committee General secretary Oommen Chandy.

READ: SUSPENSE Over Second Seat For Rahul Gandhi: Kerala Congress Proposes Wayanad Seat Amid Tough Amethi Contest With Smriti Irani In Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Rahul Gandhi, a three-time MP from Amethi, had just sneaked past now Union Minister Smriti Irani, winning the constituency by just over a lakh votes in 2014. 

Though, since then, the BJP leader has gone all-out in terms of her own contributions in Amethi over the last five years, holding a series of rallies, with PM Narendra Modi doing the same just weeks earlier at the inauguration of an ordnance manufacturing unit.

The Congress state units in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had also demanded that the party president contest the Lok Sabha elections from their respective states. 

Advertisement

Published March 31st, 2019 at 11:03 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo