What's Next As Rahul Gandhi Wins Both Wayanad and Rae Bareli | Know The Priyanka Angle

New Delhi: In a historic mandate, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi registered victory on two of the Lok Sabha seats he contested - Wayanad in Kerala and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. As per the Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any Member of Parliament when elected from two constituencies has tor resign from one of them within 14 days of the results, failing which both seats will fall vacant.

Rahul Gandhi has a tough choice ahead, which seat to keep - Wayanad which ensured that he remains in the Parliament after being defeated in Amethi or the traditional seat of Rae Bareli which has been held by members of the Nehru Gandhi family. Sources suggest that Rahul Gandhi will keep the Rae Bareli seat, and vacate Wayanad. 

Rahul Gandhi Wins Rae Bareli and Wayanad With Historic Margin 

Rahul Gandhi won Wayanad with a margin of over 3.64 lakh votes against his nearest rival, Annie Raja of the Communist Party of India. CPI, part of INDI bloc along side Congress, fielded Raja against Gandhi from Wayanad calling it a friendly fight.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress and Samajwadi Party alliance won 43 out of the 80 seats, hampering BJP's prospects at the Centre. One of the most talked about seat in Uttar Pradesh was Rae Bareli, as sitting MP Sonia Gandhi had moved to Rajya Sabha, handing over the constituency to her son Rahul Gandhi. Considering Rahul Gandhi's embarrasing defeat in Amethi in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh seat was being considered tough for him.

However, ending all speculations, Rahul Gandhi emerged victorious with a margin of over 3.9 lakh votes. Rahul Gandhi created record, surpassing her mother's winning margin from Rae Bareli. 

Why Rae Bareli is Crucial For Congress

As sources claim that Rahul will retain Rae Bareli as vacate Wayanad in the coming days, the question arises that why Rae Bareli is crucial for the Grand Old party. The party has won the Congress bastion in all but three Lok Sabha elections since 1951. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rae Bareli was the lone seat which Congress won, as the BJP swept Uttar Pradesh.

Feroze Gandhi held the seat in the first two elections after Independence. Indira Gandhi took over from Feroze and represented Rae Bareli in 1967, 1971 and 1980. Indira Gandhi contested from two seats in 1980, Rae Bareli and Medak in Telangana. However, after the results, she chose to retain the Medak seat. Rajiv Gandhi's right-hand man, Arun Nehru won the 1980 bypoll and subsequently in 1984.

Sheila Kaul, an aunt of Indira Gandhi, represented the seat in 1989 and 1991. In 1999, another friend of the Gandhis, Satish Sharma represented the Rae Bareli constituency, till Sonia Gandhi shifted there. The seat was also held by Congress' R P Singh in the 1960 bypoll after the demise of Feroze Gandhi, and by another Congress leader Baij Nath Kureel in 1962. The seat remained with the Gandhi-Nehru family or with close friends and family members.

When Congress decided to field Rahul from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi, political observers had said that if Rahul wins from Rae Bareli, it would be easier to leave Wayanad citing the historical significance and personal connection of his mother with the constituency. 

Entry Plan For Priyanka Gandhi Vadra 

Speculations were rife that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will make her political debut in this election, contesting from one of the traditional seats in Uttar Pradesh, however, Priyanka opted to contest this time. On being asked about Priyanka Gandhi sitting out of the Lok Sabha election, earlier in May, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Priyanka could enter the Parliament any time by contesting a by-poll. He said that she can reach Parliament by contesting any bypoll, but is currently taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to counter him on his alleged "lies" during campaigning.

"Priyanka ji is campaigning vigorously and is alone shutting up Narendra Modi by answering his every lie with the truth. That is why it was necessary that she should not be limited to her constituency only. Priyanka ji will reach Parliament by contesting any by-election," said Ramesh.