New Delhi: Smriti Irani has mocked and dared Rahul Gandhi to contest against her in the Lok Sabha polls from Amethi.
This constituency in central Uttar Pradesh was a bastion of the Gandhi family for decades.
Rahul was elected to Lok Sabha thrice from Amethi – in 2004, 2009 and 2014 – before losing to Smriti in the 2019 general elections.
There was speculation that like in the previous Lok Sabha election, Rahul will again contest from two seats including Amethi to avenge the 2019 defeat. But as of now, Rahul has only been nominated from Wayanad in Kerala, from where he won last time also.
Interestingly, Congress hasn’t yet announced its candidates from either Amethi or Raebareli, the other Gandhi family stronghold from where Sonia Gandhi won four time before deciding to leave electoral politics earlier this year.
There is tremendous interest over Congress’ choice from Amethi and Raebareli.
Even as the buzz over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra making her Lok Sabha poll debut from Raebareli refuses to die, there is now the possibility of her husband Robert Vadra challenging Smriti in Amethi.
A businessman, Robert himself fanned speculation on Thursday when he said the people of Amethi want him to contest from the constituency against BJP’s sitting MP and Union minister Smriti.
“The people of Amethi understood their mistake. And I feel now they want a Gandhi family member to represent the constituency. Even I get requests from Amethi people that if I join politics, I should choose Amethi. I remember my first political campaign with Priyanka was in Amethi in 1999,” Robert said.
“Amethi is upset with the sitting MP (Smriti) and the people of Amethi have understood their mistake. The sitting MP is abusing power to make a lot of noise, to accuse the Gandhi family. For years, the Gandhi family worked hard in Raebareli, Amethi and Sultanpur. Now that Amethi people are repenting for electing Smriti Irani instead of Rahul Gandhi, I feel they want a Gandhi family member to represent them. They approach me also to consider Amethi if I want to be an MP,” Robert said.
“Those people with whom I worked there are still in touch with me. They wish me on my birthday, they reach out to me through social media. They know how much I am involved in charity, so they too organise such camps on my birthdays,” he added.
It remains to be seen if Congress bow to Robert’s wish, but the BJP hit out against Congress.
“What certificate does Robert Vadra have apart from being the son-in-law of the Gandhi family? Today people are saying that there are five power centres in the Congress. But the party does not want to change that either,” said BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
