New Delhi:

Hypothesis over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s electoral debut had reached a crescendo forward of the Lok Sabha polls, solely to be fully deflated when she determined towards contesting. The excitement has began gathering steam once more, nonetheless, with sources telling NDTV on Thursday that the Congress chief will be the Congress candidate for the bypoll from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency if Rahul Gandhi vacates the seat. 

Mr Gandhi, who had gained the Lok Sabha polls – with appreciable margins – from each the Raebareli and Wayanad constituencies, additionally fanned the flames of a doable debut by his sister when he mentioned on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have misplaced “by two-three lakh votes” if his sister had fought towards him in Varanasi. 

Lengthy Historical past

The ‘will she-won’t she’ round Ms Gandhi contesting elections has been round since no less than the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when it had been speculated that she may problem PM Modi within the Varanasi constituency at a time when the Congress was struggling to halt the BJP juggernaut. 

After that did not occur, Ms Gandhi herself had mentioned she wasn’t ruling out contesting the Uttar Pradesh elections in 2022, when she was the Congress Basic Secretary for the state. She had, in truth, hinted that she might be the chief ministerial candidate, solely to say hours later that she had meant it in a tongue-in-cheek manner. 

Forward of the 2024 elections, Sonia Gandhi gave up the Raebareli seat – which she had held since 2004 – and have become a Rajya Sabha MP. This time, the hypothesis was virtually seen as a certainty. It was being reported that Priyanka Gandhi would contest from Raebareli and her brother would battle to win again Amethi from the BJP’s Smriti Irani.

Sources had mentioned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had requested the Gandhi siblings to take a call, however had let or not it’s identified that he would really like each to contest. He had additionally mentioned that in the event that they did not battle from the bastions, it will ship a unsuitable message to the employees, the Congress’ allies within the Opposition, and the NDA.

Ms Gandhi, had, nonetheless chosen to not contest. Sources near her had mentioned she had made the choice as a result of if she additionally gained the Lok Sabha polls, it will have led to 3 Gandhis being in Parliament – her mom, brother and her – lending credence to the BJP’s dynastic politics cost. 

Profitable Name?

The Congress chief had spent the majority of her time campaigning in Raebareli and Amethi, each of which had been gained by her social gathering with large margins. When the Lok Sabha outcomes got here, the Samajwadi Occasion-Congress alliance shocked the BJP and pollsters by profitable 43 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 constituencies, with the Congress alone shifting as much as six from its 2019 tally of 1. The BJP, which had clinched 62 constituencies final time, was decreased to 33, 4 decrease than the Samajwadi Occasion’s 37. 

After the outcomes, Rahul Gandhi had additionally praised his sister’s position whereas thanking the residents of UP.

Rahul Gandhi’s Dilemma

Ms Gandhi contesting within the bypolls from Wayanad will hinge on Rahul Gandhi deciding to surrender the constituency – which had granted him a win when he had misplaced Amethi in 2019 – in favour of Raebareli. Whereas he had mentioned on Wednesday that he’s going through a dilemma and remains to be undecided, saying solely that his ultimate resolution will make individuals from each constituencies glad, sources have mentioned it’s virtually sure that he’ll select to go along with Raebareli due to UP’s significance in nationwide politics. 

Two senior Congress functionaries have additionally made statements to this impact. 

Kishori Lal Sharma, a key Gandhi household aide, who handed a shock defeat to Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, has urged Rahul Gandhi to retain the Raebareli seat whereas Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Okay Sudhakaran has hinted that the chief may relinquish the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. 

“We shouldn’t be saddened as Rahul Gandhi who is meant to guide the nation can’t be anticipated to stay in Wayanad. Due to this fact, we shouldn’t be unhappy. Everybody ought to perceive that and provides all their needs and assist to him,” Mr Sudhakaran mentioned.

Congress employees have additionally held up banners in Wayanad requesting Mr Gandhi to not “depart them”. The banners additionally requested him to make sure Priyanka Gandhi “takes care of” the individuals in Wayanad if he did resolve to surrender the constituency. 

Bypolls will likely be held inside six months of Mr Gandhi vacating a seat, setting the stage for an attention-grabbing contest.