Ghaziabad, 17 April (HS): In the midst of heavy speculation over whether he will run in the Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi indicated Wednesday he would follow his party's decision. Gandhi made the statements during a joint news conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav here.
When asked if he will run for office in Amethi in addition to Wayanad, Gandhi replied the party would decide. “I will follow any order I am given. These choices are made at our party's CEC (Central Election Committee) meetings, he stated. There is conjecture that aside his stated seat of Wayanad in Kerala, Gandhi would also run Lok Sabha polls from Amethi, which he represented for three consecutive times before.
There is strong indication from party that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra represent Rae Bareli, a seat previously held by her mother, Sonia Gandhi. Both seats are considered Gandhi family strongholds, and local Congress sections have asked that the two Gandhi scions run from them. The Congress has formed an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, where it is contesting 17 Lok Sabha seats. The Lok Sabha elections are planned to take place in seven parts beginning April 19. The votes will be counted on June 4.
During a news conference today, senior leader Rahul Gandhi remained mum on who his party will put against the BJP's Smriti Irani. He emphasized that he is a party soldier and will follow the committee's decisions. The 53-year-old is anticipated to make a push to reclaim the seat once held by his uncle Sanjay Gandhi, father Rajiv Gandhi, and eventually his mother Sonia Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi's husband, has also thrown his hat in the ring, claiming that the people of Amethi want him to represent them and that his decision to run in the Lok Sabha elections would be made at the appropriate time. They want me to represent them, go to their region, and listen to their concerns so that they can go forward,” Robert Vadra had told reporters earlier.
Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi/Manoj
