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Teen Boys Beaten to Death After Dispute Over Tandoori Roti at Wedding in Amethi

May 5, 2025, 4:03 pm

What was meant to be a celebratory event at a wedding in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh ended in gory fashion when a dispute over tandoori rotis led to the brutal murder of two teens. 17-year-old Ashish and 18-year-old Ravi were beaten to death after a shouting match at a food stall at the wedding.

Police reported that the altercation took place at midnight on Sunday when Ashish and Ravi, cousins, were standing in line at the tandoori roti stall. There, they had an argument with Rohit, a groom’s cousin, and some other guests. What began as a shouting match soon turned into a full-blown fight, with witnesses claiming that Rohit and his friends felt “disrespected” and “humiliated” by the teens.

Attacked with Sticks and Rods

Ashish and Ravi, after the initial confrontation, took a few friends and left the wedding hall. But at about 1 a.m., they were apparently attacked by Rohit and his friends, who possessed iron rods, hockey sticks, and lathis. Although some of the friends did escape, the two cousins were overpowered and brutally attacked on the road.

Passersby later discovered their badly injured bodies and took them to a nearby hospital. Because of the severity of their injuries, they were shifted to AIIMS Rae Bareli and subsequently to a hospital in Lucknow. Unfortunately, Ashish died on the way, and Ravi was pronounced dead on arrival.

Shiv Bahadur, Ashish’s father, spoke of his horror and grief at the brutal brutality. “My son had gone to a wedding. He never returned. The victims were both students, young and full of promise. And all for a few rotis?” he said to TOI.

FIR Registered, Arrests Made

After the complaint of the father, an FIR was lodged against 13 people—eight of them named, and five unidentified—under sections such as murder and rioting. Amethi Additional SP Harendra Kumar has confirmed that three of the identified suspects have been arrested, and attempts are being made to trace the others.

Viral Video: Man Climbs 20 Foot Signboard In Amethi For Fame

October 16, 2024, 12:07 pm

In today’s social media-driven world, the quest for viral fame has led some young people to engage in reckless behaviors. A recent incident in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, highlights the lengths to which individuals will go to capture attention online. The viral footage, originating from the Jafarganj Mandi area within the Jagdishpur police station jurisdiction, shows a man perilously perched 20 feet high on a highway signboard, waving a flag. Shockingly, bystanders gathered below are seen recording the stunt instead of intervening to stop him.

WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:

#अमेठी:अमेठी की सड़कों पर खतरों के खिलाड़ी,किलोमीटर के सांकेतिक बोर्ड पर पुशअप करता नजर आया युवक,जान हथेली पर डालकर सड़क से 10 मीटर ऊपर बोर्ड पर पुशअप कर रहा युवक,सचिन नाम के इंस्टाग्राम आईडी से वीडियो किया गया है पोस्ट @amethipolice @DmAmethi pic.twitter.com/Qq5kCkgcCl

— AMETHI LIVE (@AmethiliveCom) September 29, 2024

This isn’t the first time Amethi has witnessed such bizarre antics. In a previous incident, a man was filmed doing pull-ups on another highway signboard, which was situated 10 meters above ground. The signboard displayed directions to Munshiganj and Amethi.

Police Response

The reckless behavior has caught the attention of local authorities. Amethi Live shared the pull-up video on their X account, stating, “Dangerous players on the roads of Amethi, a young man was seen doing pushups on the kilometre signboard, risking his life.”

In response to the viral videos, the Amethi Police have announced that they are aware of the situation and are conducting an investigation. “The matter is in the knowledge of Amethi Police Station. The viral video is being investigated, and after the investigation, necessary legal action will be taken against the persons doing the stunt as per the rules,” the police stated on X.

As the trend of filming daring stunts continues, authorities urge individuals to reconsider the risks involved and prioritize their safety over the fleeting allure of online fame.

‘5 Will Die’: Chilling Warning From Suspect Before Amethi Family Murder

October 4, 2024, 5:58 pm

The murder of a teacher, his wife, and their two young daughters in Amethi was premeditated and had been in the works for almost a month, police revealed. The suspect, Chandan Verma, had even made his intentions known publicly through cryptic messages. He had planned not only to kill the family but also to end his own life afterward.

The victims, Sunil Kumar, his wife Poonam Bharti, and their daughters, aged one and six, were brutally shot at their residence in Bhavani Nagar, Amethi, on Thursday. The tragedy followed a police complaint filed by Bharti less than two months earlier, in which she accused Verma of threatening her life. In her complaint, Bharti detailed an incident from August 18 at a Rae Bareli hospital, where Verma had allegedly misbehaved with her and slapped both her and her husband when confronted. “He said, ‘If you report this, I will kill you.’ He has threatened to kill me before as well. My family is in danger. If anything happens to me or my husband, Chandan Verma will be responsible,” Bharti had stated, urging the authorities to take action.

Following the murders, Verma was taken into police custody. Investigators found a screenshot of his WhatsApp status from September 12, which ominously read, “5 people are going to die, I will show you soon.” This message, along with other evidence, indicated Verma’s plan to commit suicide after killing the family. Officials also mentioned that Verma had visited a well-known temple in Amethi just before the crime took place.

The incident has drawn significant political attention, with the opposition criticizing the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government. The Chief Minister condemned the killings, expressing his condolences to the grieving family and promising swift action. “The culprits of this incident will not be spared at any cost, strictest legal action will be taken against them,” Adityanath posted on X.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav briefly commented on the state’s law-and-order situation with a cryptic remark, “Koi hai, kahin hai (Is anyone there, is someone there anywhere),” sharing a news report on the murders. Congress MP from Amethi, Kishori Lal Sharma, also voiced his concerns, questioning the state’s security measures. He highlighted that Rahul Gandhi had spoken to the family of one of the victims and called the incident a reflection of the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

Watch: Shirtless Man Does Pull-Ups On 30-ft Signboard Goes Viral

October 1, 2024, 4:34 pm

In a risky stunt, a man in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi was seen performing pull-ups while hanging from a 30-foot-high signboard, a video of which has since gone viral on social media. The video, filmed on a National Highway, features the unidentified shirtless man engaging in a daredevil stunt that has sparked widespread concern.

The Viral Stunt

The 16-second clip, shared widely online, shows the man precariously hanging from a signboard, performing pull-ups several meters above the road. The signboard reads, “Munshiganj, 6 kilometers on the left” and “Amethi, 3.5 kilometers ahead.” As the video progresses, the man attempts to pull himself up using his legs to sit on top of the structure. The footage is set to a track by the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.

WATCH THE VIRAL STUNT VIDEO:

#अमेठी:अमेठी की सड़कों पर खतरों के खिलाड़ी,किलोमीटर के सांकेतिक बोर्ड पर पुशअप करता नजर आया युवक,जान हथेली पर डालकर सड़क से 10 मीटर ऊपर बोर्ड पर पुशअप कर रहा युवक,सचिन नाम के इंस्टाग्राम आईडी से वीडियो किया गया है पोस्ट @amethipolice @DmAmethi pic.twitter.com/Qq5kCkgcCl

— AMETHI LIVE (@AmethiliveCom) September 29, 2024

Reactions on Social Media

The video, which has garnered over 6,000 views, has prompted a variety of reactions from netizens. One user sarcastically labeled the man “Khatron Ke Khiladi on the roads of Amethi,” referencing a popular Indian stunt-based reality TV show. Another social media user expressed concern, calling for immediate police action to deter such dangerous behavior. “Looks like he’s fond of making reels, but once he meets the police, he’ll forget this hobby forever,” one commenter wrote.

Some users compared the daredevil’s antics to the legendary action hero John Rambo, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in the hit Rambo series, though most viewers expressed alarm over the life-threatening stunt.

UP Police Respond

In response to the viral video, Amethi Police issued a statement acknowledging the situation. “The matter is in the knowledge of Amethi Police Station. The viral video is being investigated, and after proper investigation, necessary legal action will be taken against the person involved in the stunt as per the law,” said the police.

Authorities have stated that they are looking into the incident and plan to take appropriate action to prevent future occurrences of such dangerous acts.

While the man’s stunt may have gained temporary fame online, it has raised significant concerns about public safety and the growing trend of individuals risking their lives for social media attention. The Amethi Police’s swift response serves as a reminder that such reckless behavior will not be tolerated.

Watch: Man Takes Pull-Up Challenge To New Heights On Road Signboard

September 29, 2024, 2:39 pm

A man in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, pushed the limits of the reel game by performing pull-ups on a national highway signboard.

The video, filmed on National Highway 931, captures the shirtless individual executing pull-ups while perched 10 meters above the road. Another person can be seen sitting on the board, filming the impressive upper-body workout from a different angle, all set to a song by the late Sidhu Moosewala.

Watch:

#अमेठी:अमेठी की सड़कों पर खतरों के खिलाड़ी,किलोमीटर के सांकेतिक बोर्ड पर पुशअप करता नजर आया युवक,जान हथेली पर डालकर सड़क से 10 मीटर ऊपर बोर्ड पर पुशअप कर रहा युवक,सचिन नाम के इंस्टाग्राम आईडी से वीडियो किया गया है पोस्ट @amethipolice @DmAmethi pic.twitter.com/Qq5kCkgcCl

— AMETHI LIVE (@AmethiliveCom) September 29, 2024

In response to the viral video, the Amethi police stated that they are looking into the incident. They wrote on X, “After investigation, necessary legal action will be taken against the persons doing stunts as per the rules.”

Rahul Gandhi Defends Smriti Irani On Internet, Urges Civility in Politics

July 12, 2024, 4:16 pm

Recently, Smriti Irani faced defeat in the Lok Sabha elections in Amethi against Rahul Gandhi. His loyalist, Kishori Lal Sharma won by a significant margin of 1.5 lakh votes. This election result marked a notable moment in the political landscape of Amethi, a constituency that has been a stronghold for the Gandhi family.

On Friday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged his supporters and detractors of former minister Smriti Irani to avoid using derogatory language against her. In a post on X (formerly twitter), he stated that humiliating others is a sign of weakness, not strength.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining respect and civility in political discourse, Gandhi wrote on X (formerly twitter)“Winning and losing happen in life. I urge everyone to refrain from using derogatory language and being nasty towards Smt. Smriti Irani or any other leader for that matter. Humiliating and insulting people is a sign of weakness, not strength.”

Rahul Gandhi’s intentions with this post were unclear.

Winning and losing happen in life.

I urge everyone to refrain from using derogatory language and being nasty towards Smt. Smriti Irani or any other leader for that matter.

Humiliating and insulting people is a sign of weakness, not strength.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 12, 2024

Rahul Gandhi’s call for respectful behavior highlighted his stance on promoting a more dignified and respectful political environment, regardless of the election outcomes. Despite the clear message of respect and civility, the intentions behind his post remained somewhat ambiguous. Some interpreted it as a genuine appeal for decency in politics, while others speculated it might be a strategic move to position himself as a leader who values respectful discourse.

Tragic Road Accident Occurs At Amethi, 4 Dead, 12 Injured

July 9, 2024, 11:54 am

In a tragic incident, a bus heading to Delhi from Siwan collided with another vehicle, resulting in the deaths of 4 individuals and injuries to 12 others, in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday morning. Reveals police reports.

The accident occurred as the bus was en route to Delhi from the village of Siwan. Emergency services responded promptly, transporting the injured to a nearby hospital. Among the injured, two people were in critical condition and have been referred to the district hospital for advanced medical care. Further updates on the situation are still awaited.

Kishori Lal Sharma, Amethi’s Man of the Match

June 10, 2024, 4:03 am

From the day, the Congress declared his ticket from the Gandhi family bastion of Amethi, it was certain that he was going to wrest the seat back for his party. A humble and grassroots activist from the very beginning, Kishori Lal Sharma, proved to be more than a match for his BJP opponent, Smriti Irani, known for her unnecessary aggression and arrogance. Most media channels while voicing the former minister’s sentiments had virtually written off Sharma, and had declared that Rahul Gandhi, whom Smriti had defeated in 2019, had run away from the constituency. However, those who have watched and known Sharma for the past 40 years, when he was handpicked along with some others, by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, to nurture Amethi, knew from the very beginning that the BJP would lose the seat.

A quiet and unassuming worker, who knows every party worker in even the remotest parts of Amethi and Rae Bareilly, Kishori Lal Sharma, was in fact a very strong candidate. He not only proved his strength in the polls, but has by defeating Smriti Irani, gladdened the hearts of many in the Congress and some even in the BJP. The buzz was that a large number of BJP workers and leaders, did not work for her and decided to either sit at home, or support her rival.

There were also reports which suggested that there was lack of compatibility between Sanjay Singh, the erstwhile Raja of Amethi, who is now in the Saffron Brigade, and Smriti Irani, who had on multiple occasions humiliated him. This by no means does not take away the credit from Kishori Lal Sharma, whose connect with the region, helped him overcome all kinds of hurdles. As has been his conduct in the past, after being declared victorious, he collected his own and Rahul Gandhi’s election certificates and reached the capital to thank the Gandhis. The meeting was very cordial and Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka, all congratulated him and his wife, the video of which has gone viral. Kishori Lal in his modest manner, did not mince any words and told Mrs Gandhi, that the credit for his winning was entirely hers and of the Gandhi siblings. He then went to his office located in AICC headquarters, and it appeared that nothing had changed for him. Despite being now an MP elect, he met a large number of his well-wishers who had come to congratulate him and distributed ladoos to them. He also got busy replying to at least 2000 messages in his inbox, and since he has no secretarial assistance, did the task himself. Kishori Lal’s immediate plans are to organize a thanksgiving joint meeting for the people of Rae Bareilly and Amethi, at a ground that has been identified near Fursatganj.

The three Gandhis shall be attending the mega event to express their gratitude to the residents of the family bastions. One of the factors that contributed to Sharma’s victory was the realization amongst the electorate in Amethi that their status as citizens had been impacted after they had allowed Smriti to win in 2019. Till that point, wherever they would travel in the country, the ordinary resident of Amethi would get some sort of recognition once he or she disclosed the place from where they were. On learning that they were from Amethi, people would generally acknowledge their presence by giving a warm response.

Sharma who is a man of few words, did say that he was infuriated when his rival mocked the Gandhis, and accused them of running away from the contest. He said that it was then and there that he decided to take her head-on. This was possible because he had the full backing of the Gandhis, and Priyanka had made it into a prestige issue to ensure that the Congress emerged victorious. In the 1970s, Amethi, then a part of the Sultanpur district was a very backward area due to rampant underdevelopment and poverty. The late Sanjay Gandhi was at that point exploring the possibility of making Amethi as his Lok Sabha constituency. He had also made some exploratory visits to Ajnala in Punjab to ascertain which area would be more suitable, and had finally settled for the UP constituency, from where he contested his maiden Lok Sabha election in 1977 against Ravinder Pratap Singh.

In the anti-Congress atmosphere, Sanjay lost but wrested the seat in 1980 by defeating the same opponent by a very huge margin. This was six months before he died in a plane crash. It is another matter that subsequently, disillusioned with political developments, Ravinder Pratap Singh, had supported Rajiv Gandhi when he was contesting against Rajmohan Gandhi in 1989. The significance of Amethi is that it has been the stepping stone to electoral politics for many of the Gandhis, beginning from Sanjay, Rajiv, Maneka, Sonia and Rahul.

The constituency has also been represented by Captain Satish Sharma, a close family friend, who also won from Rae Bareilly on another occasion. Incidentally Maneka, who later became a nine-time MP, the senior most in the 17th Lok Sabha, had lost her first election from there to Rajiv in 1984. She was in two minds to contest but was persuaded to enter the fray, despite efforts by some family well-wishers to prevent a showdown. It was around this time when Kishori Lal Sharma, a youngman from Ludhiana, who owned a confectionary shop there, and a cousin of Captain Satish Sharma, was drafted by Rajiv along with some others to nurture the constituency. It is evident that he has come a long way.

“This Is The Victory Of The Public,” Says KL Sharma After Defeating Smriti Irani

June 5, 2024, 3:20 pm

Kishori Lal Sharma, the Congress’ newly elected Member of Parliament from a high profile seat of Amethi regarded his victory as the public’s victory.

Speaking with ANI, the newly elected MP said, “I have won this seat and this is the victory of the public.”

Responding to Smriti Irani’s remarks that ‘Josh is still high’, Sharma said, “Winning and losing always goes on as if we are contesting elections on the same seat, one has to win while the other will face defeat. If someone says that their enthusiasm is still high, even after the defeat, it is a good thing.”

He further said, “People have voted on the issues of unemployment, farmers’ income, inflation, etc. They have chosen me as their MP, I will work towards their welfare.”
On Wednesday morning, while returning to Amethi, Sharma conveyed, “I came here to submit Rahul Gandhi’s winning certificate and I had to take blessings of Sonia Gandhi Ji.
He added further, “Senior leaders of the party asked me to stay humble, just as I am. They guided me to be respectful towards everyone. Just because I have become MP, I should not be egoist about it.

“Asserting that he would work for everyone, irrespective of whether people voted for him or not, Sharma said, “I am everyone’s MP and I will work for everyone. When one wins, then responsibilities also fall on one’s shoulders. And I will fulfill that responsibility. When I will work together with the people, I will be successful. I will listen to what they want and I will never make any plans without involving the people of Amethi.”

KL Sharma’s victory over Smriti Irani by a substantial margin of 1,67,196 votes is noteworthy. Sharma garnered 5,39,228 votes while Irani secured 3,72,032 votes.

In the aftermath of the 18th Lok Sabha election, the BJP-led NDA clinched 294 seats, while the INDIA bloc secured 234 seats in the 543-member Parliament. To form a government, a party or coalition must attain a simple majority of 272 seats.

As per the Election Commission of India’s report, the BJP won 240 seats, significantly lower than its 2019 tally of 303 seats. Conversely, the Congress experienced a notable resurgence, securing victory in 99 seats.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a third term, the BJP is now reliant on the support of other parties within his coalition, such as JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP’s chief Chandrababu Naidu, as it falls short of the 272 majority mark by 32 seats.

This marks the first instance since the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ascendancy to power in 2014 that it failed to secure a majority on its own, attaining far fewer seats than the record-breaking 303 it achieved in the 2019 election.

Amethi Lok Sabha Election Result 2024: ‘Let counting finish’ Says KL Sharma with Smriti Irani down by 90K votes

June 4, 2024, 3:53 pm

The latest official figures from the Election Commission of India (EC) indicate that Kishori Lal Sharma, the Congress candidate, is leading Smriti Irani, the rival candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by a margin of 90,479 votes in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. As of 2:00 pm, the BJP’s candidate from Amethi had collected 2,26,863 votes; the counting has started.

With 3,17,342 votes, Kishori Lal Sharma leads with reporters in Amethi. In an interview, she congratulated the Gandhi family and the residents of the seat.

“I would like to thank the people of Amethi and the Gandhi family” ANI quoted Kishori Lal Sharma as saying. He added, “However, let the counting conclude. We will talk after that.”

Of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, Amethi in Uttar Pradesh is one of the most keenly followed seats, partly because of its ties to the Gandhi family. Exit surveys from the seventh round of the votes, conducted on June 1, shortly after the results were in, indicated a close race between Smriti Irani of the BJP and KL Sharma, a Congressman and Gandhi family ally.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which had been a Congress stronghold for a number of years, Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi, the Congress candidate, from Amethi.

Rahul Gandhi ran in two significant Lok Sabha seats in 2024: Waynad in Kerala and Raebareli in Uttar Paradesh. Remarkably, Sonia Gandhi, the former president of the Congress, has been representing the latter since 2004.

The NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, is aiming for a third consecutive term in power after surpassing the majority threshold in early leads. The INDIA alliance is over 200 seats and has defied all exit poll projections.

Kishori Lal Sharma Leads Against Smriti Irani In Amethi

June 4, 2024, 2:24 pm

In the latest trends from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma is leading against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Smriti Irani. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), Sharma is currently ahead with 62,358 votes, while Irani trails behind.

Expressing gratitude, Sharma addressed reporters, saying, “I would like to thank the people of Amethi and the Gandhi family.” He added, “However, let the counting conclude. We will talk after that.”

Amethi has garnered significant attention as one of the most-watched seats among the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. The exit polls predicted a fierce contest between BJP’s Irani and Gandhi family loyalist Sharma. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Irani defeated Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, a seat traditionally held by the Congress for many years. This year, Rahul Gandhi contested from Kerala’s Wayanad and Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli, represented by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi since 2004.

In Uttar Pradesh, which holds the highest number of constituencies, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is leading in 35 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 34 seats, reflecting a significant decline from the 2019 elections. The Congress party is currently leading on seven seats according to the latest ECI trends.

Nationwide, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has crossed the majority mark in early leads, while the INDIA bloc is above 200 seats, challenging exit poll predictions. The BJP aims for a third consecutive term in power, while the Opposition, under the INDIA bloc, strives to oust the ruling party. Despite most exit polls predicting a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a potential two-thirds majority for the NDA, the Congress and its allies have dismissed these forecasts as “orchestrated” and “fantasy,” insisting that the opposition will form the next government.

Strict security measures are in place to ensure smooth counting of votes for over 8,000 candidates in this general election. While two polls suggested the BJP might increase its tally from the 303 seats won in 2019, the NDA secured 353 seats in the last election, with the BJP winning 303 and the Opposition’s UPA securing 93 seats, of which Congress held 52.

Before the vote count concluded, the BJP secured a victory in the Surat Lok Sabha seat. The Lok Sabha elections were conducted nationwide in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.

Exit Poll: Tight Contest Between Smriti Irani and KL Sharma in Amethi; Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad

June 3, 2024, 11:33 am

Union minister Smriti Irani and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are anticipated to secure their respective Amethi and Wayanad Lok Sabha seats, as per the Today-Axis My India exit polls. However, the race in Amethi is expected to be tight as Smriti Irani contends against Congress candidate KL Sharma, according to the exit poll. The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls 2024 is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Smriti Irani clinched a significant victory in Amethi, a constituency long considered a bastion of the Gandhi family. She defeated Rahul Gandhi, who had held the seat for 15 years, by a margin of 55,120 votes. In their initial electoral face-off in 2014, Rahul Gandhi emerged victorious against the Bharatiya Janata Party leader.

In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi is positioned strongly to secure another term in the Lok Sabha elections, as predicted by the India Today-Axis My India exit poll. The poll suggests Rahul Gandhi holds an advantage over BJP candidate and state party chief K Surendran, with veteran CPI leader Annie Raja also in the running.

This forecast is based on extensive data from 5.8 lakh interviews conducted across all 543 parliamentary constituencies, as reported by India Today.

While Rahul Gandhi also contested from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, the Congress nominated KL Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, to contest from Amethi against Smriti Irani.

During the election campaigns, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra actively countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attacks on the Congress, particularly in Amethi and Rae Bareli. She campaigned across 16 states and one Union territory, addressing large gatherings of workers in Amethi and Rae Bareli.

The Amethi constituency comprises five assembly segments and is a general seat. Voting for the Amethi seat took place in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on May 20.

During his campaign, Rahul Gandhi pledged equal development for Amethi and Rae Bareli if the Congress came to power at the Centre. He contested the Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli, replacing his mother Sonia Gandhi.

KC Venugopal: “Congress will win in both Amethi and Raebareli”

May 17, 2024, 3:50 pm

During the ongoing Lok Sabha session, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal expressed confidence in the INDIA alliance, stating that they are united and poised for victory. He emphasized, “Our unity is strong, and we are confident of winning. In particular, we are optimistic about our prospects in both Amethi and Raebareli.”

Venugopal noted the prevailing positive sentiment among the public towards the INDIA alliance. When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s prediction that the BJP would not secure more than 150 seats, Venugopal responded, “Rahul Gandhi is well-informed with data and has extensively traveled across the nation. He has a deep understanding of the people’s sentiments.”

During a joint rally in Amethi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav campaigned for KL Sharma, the Congress and INDIA bloc candidate in Amethi. Akhilesh Yadav asserted that the BJP’s prospects had dwindled after the first four phases of the election, predicting that they would struggle to secure even 140 seats. He emphasized, “The people of the country have decided to limit the BJP to less than 140 seats. These individuals want to alter the constitution and our rights, but now the people will enact change.”

Rahul Gandhi highlighted BJP leaders’ statements about their intent to amend the Constitution if they win the elections. He expressed concerns that such changes would lead to the demise of public sector units (PSUs), loss of jobs, removal of reservations, and the erosion of citizens’ rights. Rahul Gandhi warned that without the Constitution, power would be concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, leaving others without their rights.

Amethi and Raebareli, traditionally strongholds of the Gandhi family, have regained attention. Rahul Gandhi is contesting in Raebareli, while the Congress’s close associate Kishori Lal Sharma is competing against Smriti Irani in Amethi. The Congress secured only two seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 (Raebareli and Amethi), which decreased to one in 2019 after losing Amethi.

On May 3, the Congress announced Rahul Gandhi as the candidate from Raebareli and loyalist KL Sharma from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi, currently an MP from Kerala’s Wayanad, is seeking reelection from both Raebareli and Wayanad. He previously represented Amethi from 2004 to 2019. In Raebareli, he will face BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh, a former Congress member.

Raebareli and Amethi will vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, which is being conducted in seven phases. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Sachin Pilot Says Raebareli And Amethi Are Pro-Congress

May 14, 2024, 5:31 pm

Ahead of the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024, Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed confidence in the party’s stronghold constituencies, Amethi and Raebareli. Pilot emphasized that despite the opponent, the voters in these constituencies remain pro-Congress.

Pilot remarked to PTI, “In both Amethi and Raebareli, regardless of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s choice of candidate, we anticipate significant victories.” He further asserted, “Today, we are campaigning in Raebareli, where we expect a historic mandate in favour of Rahul Gandhi. “Amethi and Raebareli” hold immense importance for the Congress party. Amethi, previously represented by Rahul Gandhi, was wrested by BJP’s Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections. In contrast, Raebareli, a traditional Congress stronghold, has seen victories by leaders like Sonia Gandhi in recent years. For the upcoming elections, Congress has fielded Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli and loyalist KL Sharma from Amethi. This strategic move sidelines Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra from the electoral fray. Alongside contesting from Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi is also standing as a candidate from Wayanad constituency in Kerala.

The Lok Sabha elections, unfolding across seven phases, have witnessed polling in earlier phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13. The fifth phase is scheduled for May 20, with results set to be announced on June 4.

Sachin Pilot claims Raebareli and Amethi as Pro-Congress and voters won’t divert ahead in the Election 2024 ahead.

Gehlot at helm of Amethi battle leaves nothing to chance

May 14, 2024, 3:14 am

Amethi and Rae Bareli seats are two strong footholds of Congress and the the party is pulling out all stops to ensure victory here. The responsibility of recapturing Amethi has been given to prominent Rajasthani leaders.

Under the leadership of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his entire team has taken control of every assembly constituency. While being in-charge of Gujarat in the year 2017, Gehlot had worked on this strategy and brought the party into competition.

In Amethi also, a similar strategy has been devised and all efforts have been made to ensure victory. Gehlot himself is keeping an eye on every assembly seat. The party has made him the senior observer of Amethi seat.

Priyanka Gandhi herself is continuously campaigning on Amethi and Rae Bareli seats and monitoring them. Last time Rahul Gandhi had lost the election from Amethi seat. This time the party has fielded Kishori Lal Sharma in the electoral fray. This seat has become a prestige seat for the party, hence Priyanka herself is also taking the lead.

Priyanka Gandhi continues to criticize the Modi government during the elections, while Gehlot also seizes every opportunity to voice his opinions.

Speaking in Amethi on Monday, Gehlot stated that the public has made up their minds to establish an India Coalition government, and unexpected outcomes are anticipated on June 4. He emphasized the significance of this Lok Sabha election as a crucial step towards safeguarding democracy and the Constitution. Gehlot remarked that people have moved past their fascination with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and are now focusing on voting with a clear vision for the future. He highlighted the collaboration between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, describing it as a positive development.

Gehlot portrayed the guarantees made by Congress and Rahul Gandhi as a commitment to rebuilding a prosperous India, promising to accelerate development schemes aimed at tackling unemployment and securing the rights of farmers and laborers once the India Coalition government is established. Referring to late Rajiv Gandhi’s enduring connection with Amethi since his initial election, Gehlot credited the Gandhi family for the visible development in Amethi today. During the event, Amethi’s Congress candidate KL Sharma expressed gratitude to various Congress leaders from Rajasthan, including Ashok Gehlot.

Former CM Ashok Gehlot escorted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi to the Amethi helipad, engaging in discussions regarding pertinent election matters and brainstorming the current political landscape of Amethi. The two leaders engaged in a lengthy conversation at the helipad before meeting with party workers. Dharmendra Rathod, appointed as the coordination director for Amethi, expressed confidence in Congress’s prospects, predicting victories in both the Amethi and Rae Bareli seats by significant margins. He remarked on the shifting atmosphere in the state, suggesting that the results on June 4 will surprise many.

Assembly incharge and block wise incharge have also been appointed for Amethi Lok Sabha elections. Among these, Dharamraj Baheliya has been made in-charge of Tiloi Assembly.

While Kashi Prasad Pasi, Mohammad Rauf of Bahadurpur and Chandramohan Tiwari of Singhpur have been made in-charge of Tiloi block. Similarly, Sarvesh Singh has been made the assembly in-charge of Salon.

Also, Block Incharge Dharmendra Singh of Salon, Shivdarshan Pasi of Dih and Vishnukant Mishra of Chhatoh have been appointed.

At the same time, Amethi assembly in-charge will be Virendra Mishra. Along with him, Dr. Devmani Tripathi has been made the block in-charge of Amethi, Hiramani Kanojia of Sangrampur, Virendra Singh Raja of Bhadar and Ajit Yadav has been made in-charge of Bhedua.

Also, Sunil Singh has been given the responsibility as Gauriganj assembly in-charge. While Gauriganj block in-charge Avneesh Mishra Senani, Jamon in-charge Rammanohar Saroj, Shahgarh in-charge Manoj Kumar Kashyap and Musafirkhana in-charge Rajendra Ojha Raju have been made. Similarly, Matin Ahmed has been made the assembly in-charge of Jagdishpur. Besides, Jagdishpur block in-charge Mairaj Ahmed, Bazarshukul Dinesh Dwivedi and Baldirai in-charge Ajay Singh have been made.

Gehlot has made Dharmendra Singh Rathod and Hemsingh Shekhawat as coordinating directors. Whereas Ambesh Ratnu has been given the responsibility of Social Media and Control Room Coordinator, Bhupendra Singh has been given the responsibility of War Room Amethi. Along with this, Leader of Opposition Uttar Pradesh Aradhana Mishra, District President Amethi Pradeep Singhal are also performing important responsibilities.

Why did Rahul Gandhi go to Rae Bareli?

May 7, 2024, 3:50 am

If Rahul Gandhi wins both Wayanad and Rae Bareli seats, which of the two will he retain?

In this election, no other leader’s constituency generated as much curiosity as that of Rahul Gandhi over where else he will contest polls from in addition to Wayanad. There were discussions regarding Amethi, where Rahul Gandhi faced defeat in the 2019 elections after representing the constituency as an MP for 15 years. The Gandhi family’s ties with Amethi are very old and strong. Sanjay Gandhi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Amethi in 1980, followed by Rajiv Gandhi three times, Sonia Gandhi once and Rahul Gandhi thrice.

However, the reason why Rahul Gandhi chose not to contest from Amethi this time remains unclear. Perhaps his advisors advised him against it, fearing a potential defeat. In my opinion, he should have still contested from Amethi, for it is believed that he would have emerged victorious there as well.

Congress has fielded Kishori Lal Sharma, a confidant of the Gandhi family, from Amethi. While many expected Priyanka Gandhi to fight the elections from Amethi, she has declared that she would campaign for Kishori Lal Sharma. In my opinion, Priyanka’s presence in the fray would have increased the chances of victory. However, since she is not in the race, Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Rae Bareli, another traditional stronghold of the family, indicates his confidence in that constituency. The historical ties of the Gandhi-Nehru family with Rae Bareli run deep. In the first and second Lok Sabha elections of the country, Feroze Gandhi was elected to Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli. Indira Gandhi won the election from this constituency thrice. Sonia Gandhi has also been representing Raebareli for four consecutive terms since 2004.

Rahul Gandhi filed nomination papers with great fanfare in Rae Bareli. Quite naturally, everyone watches him closely. A BJP leader sarcastically told me that Rahul Gandhi was saying that ED had frozen Congress’ bank account and the party does not have money even to buy train tickets. So, how could he afford a plane in which he arrived along with staunch Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and K C Venugopal? Similarly, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra arrived on the second plane while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge arrived on the third plane. Then the BJP leader also reminded me that none of them was present in Amethi to file Kishori Lal Sharma’s nomination papers! The BJP is always ready to seize any opportunity that comes its way and obviously so. The BJP leaders even claimed that Rahul Gandhi had ‘fled’ from Wayanad fearing defeat. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that a formidable candidate has been fielded, making it difficult for Rahul Gandhi to secure a victory. However, reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi is set to win the Wayanad seat. Therefore, the pressing question is that if Rahul Gandhi wins both the seats, which one will he choose to retain? In my opinion, he will most likely retain Rae Bareli, the traditional stronghold of his family. He understands that without gaining a foothold in Uttar Pradesh, any aspiration of governing the nation would be futile.

In the realm of Indian politics today, Rahul Gandhi’s influence is undeniable. Despite not holding the post of party president, the Congress cannot function without him, and the same can be said for the ruling party BJP. Right from Prime Minister to other prominent leaders, nobody can complete his or her speech without mentioning Rahul Gandhi’s name.

Consistent efforts were made to brand him as ‘Pappu’. What I feel is if someone is so unworthy in your view, why do you mention his name time and again? Why not simply ignore him? However, it is impossible to ignore Rahul Gandhi. How can the contribution of Gandhi family in the freedom struggle, the nation building thereafter and the supreme sacrifices made by the family, be forgotten! L K Advani had once told me that we have political differences with the Congress but they are not our enemies, and we cannot ignore them completely.

Many people often comment on Rahul Gandhi’s attire and appearance too. They maintain that while Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were quite modern in their choices, both of them started wearing traditional khadi attire associated with the Congress party once they entered politics. Sonia Gandhi even began wearing sarees. From that point onwards, they were never seen in modern clothing. However, Rahul Gandhi stands out as being extremely modern in his fashion sense, embracing the attire of the youth. He has broken away from tradition, perhaps to maintain his own unique identity. However, I firmly believe that clothing plays a significant role in the realm of politics. Another aspect that is often mentioned is that Rahul Gandhi’s nature is such that his close associates like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada, Milind Deora, K P Singh left him. The question is whether they left because of Rahul’s nature or they were feeling insecure? Or was the system around Rahul Gandhi suffocating them?

Many leaders have parted ways with Congress. Sonia Gandhi is currently unwell. Notwithstanding this, Rahul and Priyanka are fighting even as they are pitted against the formidable BJP bolstered by Narendra Modi. Modi’s leadership is charismatic. The party has seasoned players like Amit Shah, and Yogi Adityanath in UP. Even before the Congress could aim, their arrow hits the target. Rahul possesses the determination to triumph in the struggle but he does not have a team of fighters. I have stated on multiple occasions that a strong team or contingent cannot be assembled unless Congress is revitalised. The Congress leaders who win the elections do so on the strength of their own abilities. It is imperative to revitalise and strengthen Congress, but at the moment, it is not an easy challenge to accept.

The author is the chairman, Editorial Board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha.

Priyanka at helm of Congress campaign in Rae Bareli, Amethi

May 7, 2024, 3:13 am

Rae Bareli and Amethi seats are two of the most significant seats for the Congress. The party is doing meticulous planning to turn the table ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in both these constituencies. Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi shall be the main strategist. Yet, party’s veteran leaders have been called to take forward the party’s campaign.

After Rahul Gandhi’s decision not to contest the elections from Amethi, numerous questions have surfaced. Party leaders are rallying behind him, asserting that the outcomes will provide clarity on the correctness of the decision. The argument posits that Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma has been deeply involved in the area for four decades, with intimate knowledge of every household. However, the verdict will be revealed on 4 June.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Gehlot has been specifically allotted the task of overseeing Amethi, where Priyanka will dedicate the majority of her time. Additionally, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Baghel will be responsible for Rae Bareli. Both leaders bring considerable experience in Uttar Pradesh, with Baghel previously serving as an observer during assembly elections.

Gehlot, in his capacity as party general secretary, previously contested elections independently in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, rejuvenating party workers through his efforts.

Furthermore, he has previously led investigation committees.

In the past, all the strategy and planning of Congress has fallen flat and gone erroneous. Due to coalition politics, Congress was completely destroyed. In 2019, Congress even lost the election of Amethi. The only seat won was Rae Bareli, by Sonia Gandhi. In the 2022 assembly elections, Priyanka Gandhi did her own kind of politics. Tried many experiments. Gave tickets to 40 percent women. Took the responsibility of the elections herself, but the results were such that the vote percentage came down to three percent.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress seems to have hit the bottom. For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the party is once again focusing its efforts on Rae Bareli and Amethi. Winning both these seats would significantly boost the morale of party workers in Uttar Pradesh. It appears that Priyanka Gandhi has taken the responsibility for securing victory in both constituencies.

Considering their experience, Priyanka has enlisted the support of Gehlot and Baghel. Gehlot, renowned as a political strategist, holds considerable sway within the organization. Meanwhile, Baghel has matured into a seasoned politician. This election holds significant importance for both leaders, as a victory would elevate the party’s stature.

Priyanka Gandhi has intensified her efforts by personally visiting Amethi and engaging in extensive meetings with officials and workers, initiating an assertive strategy. Party stalwarts are expected to join the campaign soon.

However, the contest in Rae Bareli is anticipated to be challenging, with BJP candidate DP Singh maintaining a strong presence over the past decade.

In the previous election, Singh significantly narrowed Sonia Gandhi’s victory margin. Despite the setback, the BJP has kept him active in the region. Consequently, the challenge for Rahul Gandhi may not be straightforward. Although Sonia Gandhi’s presence in campaigning could garner sympathy for Rahul, Amethi presents an intriguing contest.

Priyanka and Gehlot’s strategy will be closely monitored, particularly as BJP candidate Smriti Irani has solidified her foothold in the constituency over the last decade.

Gandhi Family Absent in Amethi Elections After 25 Years, Smriti Irani Reacts

May 3, 2024, 2:12 pm

After a gap of 25 years, the Lok Sabha elections in Amethi will occur without a candidate from the influential Gandhi family. The Congress party has nominated Kishori Lal Sharma from the constituency, which has historically been a stronghold for the party. Rahul Gandhi, who won three times from Amethi before losing to BJP’s Smriti Irani, will now contest from Rae Bareli.

In response to this development, Smriti Irani, who famously defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, remarked that the Congress party has conceded its defeat in the region. She said, “No member of the Gandhi family contesting from Amethi in itself is an indication that Congress has accepted its defeat from Amethi even before the elections.”

Amethi has long been a bastion for the Congress party since its formation in 1967. Rahul Gandhi represented the constituency from 2004 to 2019, following in the footsteps of his mother Sonia Gandhi.

The last time a non-Gandhi contested from Amethi was in 1998 when Satish Sharma, a close associate of the Gandhi family, ran for the seat but lost to the BJP’s Sanjaya Sinh. Sonia Gandhi then contested and won from Amethi in 1999, securing a significant victory margin.

In 2004, Sonia Gandhi shifted to Rae Bareli, allowing Rahul Gandhi to take over Amethi.

Amethi’s political history includes Congress’s Vidya Dhar Bajpai as its first MP. In 1977, the Janata Party’s Ravindra Pratap Singh won the seat, but Sanjay Gandhi reclaimed it in the next election. After Sanjay Gandhi’s death, Rajiv Gandhi won the by-elections and remained the MP until his assassination in 1991.

Satish Sharma won the seat twice after Rajiv Gandhi’s death, in 1991 and 1996. In 2014, Rahul Gandhi defeated Smriti Irani by a significant margin. However, in 2019, Smriti Irani emerged victorious against Rahul Gandhi with a substantial margin of 55,000 votes.

In Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi will face BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh, who lost to Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 elections.

Voting in Amethi and Rae Bareli is scheduled for May 20.

‘Congress Has Conceded Defeat….’ Smriti Irani Jibes On Rahul Gandhi’s Nomination From Raebareli

May 3, 2024, 1:27 pm

Union Minister and BJP candidate for Amethi, Smriti Irani, stated on Friday that the Congress has conceded defeat from the constituency even before a vote was cast, claiming that if the opposition party had been optimistic about the results of the polls, they would not have fielded a “proxy candidate” (Kishori Lal Sharma).

‘Gandhis are losing Amethi even before the votes are tallied because they are not battling in the state in Amethi’ Smriti Irani told reporters that ‘if they had seen a glimmer of hope, they would have contested and not put up a proxy candidate.’

“There has been great development in Amethi…if this much has been accomplished in 5 years out of which two years were lost to the battle against Covid, then why was it not done for 50 years in Amethi by the Gandhi family? I want to assure the people of Amethi that the Modi government will return, and we will continue to work for people here, with development being the centre of our focus. Today before a vote has been cast, history has been made. I am grateful to the people of Amethi. Today is the victory of the people of Amethi,” Irani said.

Irani brought up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that the Congress was “waiting for elections to conclude in Kerala” in order to thereafter proclaim Rahul Gandhi’s safe seat.
“After the Wayanad election is over, Rahul Gandhi will hunt for a new seat, PM Modi had previously alerted the nation. The leadership of Congress is leaving the battlefield, she remarked.

In Raebareli, Rahul is up against Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP. In the Lok Sabha, he presently represents Wayanad, and Smriti Irani is running for reelection from Amethi.

Raebareli was held by Sonia Gandhi, who became a member of the Rajya Sabha. The Congress party has also named Kishori Lal Sharma, a party loyalist from Amethi, the seat Rahul Gandhi lost in the 2019 general elections to BJP leader Smriti Irani.

The Congress party has also named Kishori Lal Sharma, a party loyalist from Amethi, the seat Rahul Gandhi lost in the 2019 general elections to BJP leader Smriti Irani.
Meanwhile, KL Sharma filed his nomination from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat.

Sonia Gandhi contested elections from here in 1999 before passing the baton on to Rahul in 2004. Irani had earlier filed her nomination as the BJP candidate for Amethi.

Both seats are going to polls in the fifth phase on May 20. Rahul represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2019. His father and former Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, too, was an elected member of Amethi in the Lower House from 1981 till his death in 1991.

The party has won the Congress bastion in all but three Lok Sabha elections since 1951. Before Sonia Gandhi, former Indira Gandhi had won from Raebareli three times. The constituency also elected Indira’s husband and Congress leader, Feroze Gandhi, twice, in 1952 and 1957. A member of the Nehru-Gandhi family has not contested the seat just twice, in 1962 and 1999.

“Relationship Between Amethi And Gandhi Family’ Says Congress Leader Deepak Singh

May 3, 2024, 12:58 pm

Deepak Singh, the Congress leader, said that the Amethi people have a strong and unbreakable tie with the Gandhi family in response to Rahul Gandhi’s nomination on Friday for the Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency. There is an unbreakable bond between the Gandhi and Amethi families. Deepak Singh informed ANI that he would undoubtedly visit us before to presenting his candidature.

After many days of speculation, Rahul Gandhi was finally declared by the Congress on Friday as their candidate for the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, which is their ancestral home. Rahul Gandhi will be facing BJP member Dinesh Pratap Singh. Smriti Irani is running for a new term from Amethi in the Lok Sabha, and Rahul currently represents Wayanad. Raebareli felt Sonia’s hug.

Kishori Lal Sharma, a party supporter from Amethi, the seat Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the 2019 general elections, has also been nominated by the Congress party. Before handing over the reins to Rahul in 2004, Sonia Gandhi ran for office from this location in 1999. Irani had previously submitted her candidature as the BJP’s choice for Amethi.On May 20, these seats will go to polls in the fifth phase.

From 2004 till 2019, Rahul was the Lok Sabha representative for Amethi. From 1981 until his passing in 1991, Rajiv Gandhi, his father and the previous prime minister, was also an elected member of Amethi’s Lower House. The deadline to submit nominations for the seats that will be up for election on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections is this Friday.

In the Congress stronghold, the party has won all but three Lok Sabha elections since 1951. Raebareli had been defeated three times by Indira Gandhi prior to Sonia Gandhi taking government. The Congress leader and Indira Gandhi’s spouse, Feroze Gandhi, was also elected by the constituency in 1952 and 1957. There were only two occasions when a Nehru-Gandhi family member declined to run for office: in 1996 and 1999.

Both constituencies are traditional strongholds of the Gandhi-Nehru family, with its members holding these seats for decades. The Congress, which is contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of the seat-sharing deal with the Samajwadi Party (SP), has announced candidates for all the seats barring Amethi and Raebareli.

Rahul’s defeat in Amethi, once considered a Congress ‘pocket borough’, at the hands of Smriti Irani in the 2019 polls was seen as a significant blow to the party’s national prestige.

Know About Congress Candidate Kishori Lal Sharma Who To Submit his nomination From Amethi Today

May 3, 2024, 10:41 am

Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma is set to submit his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections today, contesting from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi constituency. Once a stronghold of the Gandhi family, Amethi saw a shift in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani.

Rae Bareli, another Gandhi family stronghold, will be the location of Rahul Gandhi’s nomination filing in the interim. Gandhi served as the representative for Amethi in the Parliament from 2004 to 2019.

Until earlier this year, when she relocated to the Rajya Sabha, Rahul’s mother, Sonia Gandhi, served as the representative for Rae Bareli. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was tipped to challenge from Rae Bareli.

Kishori Lal Sharma has long been associated with the Gandhi family, serving as Sonia Gandhi’s representative in Rae Bareli. He acts as a key figure in both Rae Bareli and Amethi concerning matters related to the Gandhi family.

Sharma will face BJP’s Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 elections, in the electoral contest.

Originally from Punjab, KL Sharma began his political journey in Amethi as a Congress worker in 1983. He maintained close ties with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, continuing his Congress activism in Amethi even during the Gandhi family’s hiatus from electoral politics in the 1990s.

Sharma played a pivotal role in Sonia Gandhi’s electoral victory in 1999, which marked her entry into Parliament from Amethi. Upon Sonia Gandhi’s shift to Rae Bareli, Sharma accompanied her and managed affairs there as well.

Subsequently, in 2004, Rahul Gandhi took over the Amethi seat in the Lok Sabha, and Sharma extended his responsibilities to both Amethi and Rae Bareli.

Beyond Uttar Pradesh, KL Sharma has also been involved in Congress activities in Bihar and Punjab. Voting in both Amethi and Rae Bareli is scheduled for May 20.

Congress Likely To Announce Rahul And Priyanka’s Candidature

May 2, 2024, 8:44 am

The Congress’s candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, which have long been seen as Nehru-Gandhi family strongholds, remain unclear as the deadline for Phase 5 nominations in the Lok Sabha elections draws near.

Rahul Gandhi, who is now running for Congress from Wayanad in Kerala, is reportedly planning to run from Amethi as well, a seat he lost to Union Minister Smriti Irani in 2019. Thursday is anticipated to be his official announcement, and nominations are due on Friday.

Amidst discussions among Congress leaders and its allies in the INDIA bloc, it’s proposed that Rahul contest Amethi while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra be nominated from Raebareli. The Samajwadi Party (SP), in talks with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, sees potential electoral gains with both Rahul and Priyanka entering the fray.

Kharge has reportedly expressed favor for Rahul and Priyanka’s candidature from Amethi and Raebareli, respectively, although both siblings seem hesitant. Nevertheless, Kharge insists at least one of them should contest.

In a recent party meeting, the Congress’ UP unit formally proposed members of the Gandhi family as candidates for Amethi and Raebareli, deferring the final decision to Kharge.

Despite expectations and preparations, the Congress is yet to issue an official statement regarding its nominees for these constituencies, once considered its bastions.

Jairam Ramesh, senior Congress leader, stated that the Central Election Committee (CEC) has entrusted Mallikarjun Kharge with the final decision on Amethi and Raebareli candidates, expecting an announcement within the next 24 to 30 hours.

In the ongoing seat-sharing deal with the SP, the Congress is contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, having finalized candidates for all but Amethi and Raebareli.

The fifth phase of polling in Amethi is scheduled for May 20, with the nomination deadline set for May 3.

Rahul’s loss in Amethi, once a Congress stronghold, in 2019 to Irani was considered a significant setback. Previously, Rahul, his father Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi had represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha. Currently, Rahul represents Wayanad, while Irani seeks re-election from Amethi.

Gandhi Family Set to Contest Amethi, Asserts Congress Leader Deepak Singh

April 30, 2024, 9:43 pm

Congress politician Deepak Singh affirmed that the “Gandhi family will definitely contest” from this constituency due to the deep-rooted connection between the people of Amethi and Rahul Gandhi, amidst speculations regarding his candidacy on Tuesday.

Speaking to ANI, Deepak Singh stated, “Rahul Gandhi has an emotional attachment with Amethi. Amethi has strong relations with the Gandhi family. Definitely Gandhi family will fight from here. This is what we feel…BJP is worried, we all have faith that Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi will come and defeat the BJP.”

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani in Amethi. The Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated Irani once again for the seat.
Sources suggest that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to contest the Lok Sabha seats from Amethi and Rae Bareli, respectively.

In the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party will vie for 63 seats, while the Congress will contest 17 seats, as per the seat-sharing agreement between the two parties.
Earlier, on Wednesday in the Gauriganj area of Amethi, posters featuring Robert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, surfaced outside the party’s headquarters. This led to speculation about Vadra potentially receiving a ticket.

However, the Congress is known for fiercely contesting every seat it vies for, which is why it has decided to nominate the Gandhi siblings.
On May 20, the Lok Sabha seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli will go to the polls during the fifth phase of voting.

Lok sabha Election 2024: Akhilesh Yadav’s big hint on Rahul Gandhi’s possible entry in Amethi

April 25, 2024, 3:35 pm

Amidst reports suggesting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s potential candidacy from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav expressed that all eyes will now be on Uttar Pradesh.

Responding to inquiries about Rahul Gandhi’s possible entry into the fray in Amethi during his nomination filing in Kannauj, Akhilesh Yadav remarked, “Everyone will come now, the gathering will be in Uttar Pradesh only.”

Accompanied by Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramgopal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha polls in Kannauj. Akhilesh has a history with Kannauj, having been elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from the constituency in 2000, and subsequently re-elected twice in 2004 and 2009. After serving as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2012, he returned to the Lok Sabha in 2019 as an MP from Azamgarh. However, in 2022, he resigned from the Lok Sabha to participate in the UP Assembly.

Voting for the Kannauj seat is scheduled for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 13. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has nominated Tej Pratap Yadav, Akhilesh’s nephew and son-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, as its candidate.

In a seat-sharing arrangement between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Congress will contest 17 seats while the Samajwadi Party will contest the remaining 63 seats.

Speculations are rife that Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi are likely to contest from Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively. However, the final decision is expected after April 26, with nominations potentially being filed next week. In the second phase, Wayanad, from where Rahul Gandhi is contesting, will go to the polls.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. Irani has been fielded again by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the same seat.

Apart from its traditional strongholds of Rae Bareli and Amethi, Congress is also contesting from Varanasi, Ghaziabad, and Kanpur.

Earlier, posters featuring Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, appeared outside the party’s office in the Gauriganj area of Amethi on Wednesday, sparking speculations about a possible ticket for Vadra. However, the Congress seems determined to contest every seat it has decided upon, opting to field the Gandhi siblings. Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies are scheduled to vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

‘Hugging in Delhi, begging in Kerala, thugging in Karnataka…’ Smriti Irani takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi

April 6, 2024, 2:31 pm

Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Smriti Irani criticized the Congress’s stance in Kerala, particularly targeting senior party figure Rahul Gandhi, who is running for election from the Wayanad constituency. Irani took aim at the Congress for facing competition from its ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), in Kerala, where the CPI has put forward its prominent candidate against Rahul Gandhi.

Annie Raja, the general secretary of the Communist Party, was nominated to contest from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala against Rahul Gandhi. In response, the BJP nominated its Kerala chief, K Surendran, for the Wayanad seat, setting the stage for a three-way contest.

Irani, speaking at a rally in Karnataka, sarcastically remarked on the Congress’s predicament, stating, “The condition of the Opposition is such that they are contesting in Wayanad. Left parties suggest Rahul Gandhi contest from Uttar Pradesh, yet when they meet in Delhi for an INDIA Alliance gathering, they embrace Rahul Gandhi.”

She further commented, “Yesterday, I mentioned in Kerala, ‘Hugging in Delhi, begging in Kerala.’ The situation reflects the turmoil the Congress is facing: ‘Hugging in Delhi, begging in Kerala, thugging in Karnataka…'”

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: During her interaction with businessmen, Union Minister Smriti Irani says, "The condition of the Opposition is that they are fighting in Wayanad. Left parties are saying that why does Rahul Gandhi not go to Uttar Pradesh and contest. But when the… pic.twitter.com/iy1tXVJJaf

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2024

Annie Raja filed her nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad on Wednesday. While the CPI is part of the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala, it competes fiercely with the Congress in the state, despite being allies in the opposition INDIA bloc.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Smriti Irani’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi comes amidst the Congress’s delay in finalizing its candidate for the Amethi seat, historically a stronghold for the party.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi by a significant margin to claim victory in Amethi. While Rahul Gandhi has announced his candidacy from Wayanad, it remains unclear if he will challenge Irani in the upcoming election.

Businessman Robert Vadra, the husband of Priyanka Gandhi, hinted at a potential entry into politics earlier this week, suggesting he might represent the Congress from the Amethi constituency. Vadra stated that the people of Amethi desire a Gandhi family member to represent them in Parliament and expressed openness to fulfilling that expectation.

Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Amethi is still under suspicion

March 8, 2024, 11:03 am

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy for the Lok Sabha from Kerala’s Wayanad was confirmed as anticipated during the first meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) on Thursday. However, uncertainty persists over whether he will contest the Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh, which he held from 2004 to 2019.

Despite losing the Amethi seat to Union minister Smriti Irani five years ago, Gandhi has visited the constituency, a traditional stronghold for his family, only three times. The infrequency of his visits has raised concerns about his efforts to regain voter support. Nevertheless, Congress leaders have pointed to an “overwhelming response” during Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to Amethi, countering the perception of a lack of engagement. The BJP has nominated Irani again as its candidate from Amethi.

The CEC’s initial meeting focused on finalizing candidates from Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and seven Northeastern states excluding Assam. Shashi Tharoor and Jyotsna Mahant were approved as candidates from Thiruvananthapuram and Chhattisgarh, respectively. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, present at the meeting, were encouraged to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

For Delhi’s Chandni Chowk seat, names proposed included Alka Lamba, former MPs Sandip Dikshit, and JP Agarwal. For the North West Delhi constituency, Udit Raj and Raj Kumar Chauhan were among the shortlisted candidates. State unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, Anil Choudhury, and one more candidate were suggested for the North East Delhi seat.

Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge separately pledged three million government jobs, guaranteed apprenticeships for all degree/diploma holders with a stipend of ₹1 lakh per year, and a social security net for gig workers at a rally in Rajasthan on Thursday. These promises are viewed as an attempt to counter the BJP’s campaign. While the Congress frames them as guarantees, the BJP markets its poll assurances as “Modi ki guarantee,” capitalizing on the Prime Minister’s popularity.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters 37th day

February 19, 2024, 10:20 am

As the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters its 37th day, Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, announced on Monday that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will attend a public rally in Babuganj.

“Today is the 37th day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally in Babuganj. We will stay in Amethi tonight and reach Raebareli tomorrow morning. We will stay in Lucknow tomorrow and in Kanpur the day after. Then, we will take 2 days’ rest on 22nd and 23rd February…” said Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh.

When asked about Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh joining Bharat Jodo Naya Yatra, Jairam Ramesh said, “I expect that he will join the Yatra tomorrow. Earlier, Apna Dal leader Pallavi Patel also joined the yatra.”

Previously, the Samajwadi Party Chief welcomed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s invitation to participate in the Yatra, stating that he will do it in Amethi or Rae Bareli. However, with little progress being made in the two parties’ seat-sharing talks, there are indications that the SP Chief will remain away from the Yatra as it passes through Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed on Sunday for the country’s youth to wake up and fight for their rights.
He claimed that the youth should have the primary claim to the country’s wealth and resources, rather than “people like Adani and Ambani”.

On the thirty-sixth day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in this holy city of ‘Sangam’, Rahul Gandhi addressed a large crowd of people, the majority of whom were youth, and agreed with and shared their concerns, particularly about their future, career, and employment opportunities, which were shrinking.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi fired a new salvo at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre over Shri Ram Lalla’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ event at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple, claiming that the OBCs, Dalits, and Backward Class people, who make up 73% of the country’s total population, were nowhere to be found during the mega event.

Gandhi was addressing a crowd during the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, followed by the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, intends to span 6,700 kilometers through 15 states, with Lok Sabha elections just around the corner.

Rahul Gandhi will definitely contest from Amethi, claims UP Congress president Rai

August 19, 2023, 4:57 pm

Ajay Rai, the newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress president, stated on Friday that Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sparking speculation over the high-profile constituency that has long been a traditional seat for the Gandhi-Nehru family.

Only twice has the Gandhi-Nehru family been defeated in this Congress stronghold, the first being soon after the Emergency, when Sanjay Gandhi lost to Janata Party candidate Ravindra Pratap Singh.

Rahul Gandhi made his parliamentary debut in Amethi in 2004 and won the next two Lok Sabha elections from the same seat before losing it to Smriti Irani of the BJP in 2019.

Sonia Gandhi, an MP from Rae Bareli, is currently the only Congress legislator from UP, and the grand old party would like to take Amethi from Smriti Irani. Rahul Gandhi is now the Member of Parliament for Wayanad in Kerala.

Surrounded by party workers and leaders, who gathered at the airport as he arrived from Delhi, Rai said, “Rahul Gandhi will definitely contest the Lok Sabha election from Amethi, the people of Amethi are here.”

Rai expressed frustration with Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in the last election. “Smriti Irani seems frustrated. She said she will get sugar at ₹13 per kg, did she manage it? People from Amethi are here, ask them,” Rai said.