Sources within the Congress party have confirmed to India Today TV that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is anticipated to retain the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat and is likely to step down from the Wayanad seat in Kerala. This decision comes following his resounding victories in both constituencies during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
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A final verdict on this matter is projected to be reached before June 17, adhering to the guidelines outlined in the Representation of the People Act. According to this legislation, an individual can contest elections from a maximum of two constituencies but must ultimately choose one and tender resignation from the other within 14 days of the election results. Failure to do so could result in forfeiture of both seats.
During the Congress Working Committee meeting held on Saturday, there were differing opinions regarding whether Rahul Gandhi should retain the Raebareli or Wayanad seat. While some MPs, like Kodikkunnil Suresh from Kerala, advocated for Gandhi to maintain the Wayanad seat, there was a more pronounced inclination towards Raebareli, as per insider sources.
Aradhana Mishra, the Congress Legislative Party leader from Uttar Pradesh, emphasized Raebareli’s historical significance as the traditional seat of the Gandhi family, passed down through generations, asserting that Rahul Gandhi should preserve this connection.
Additionally, leaders argued that Rahul Gandhi’s retention of the Raebareli seat holds strategic importance for the political resurgence of Congress in Uttar Pradesh, a state with 80 Lok Sabha seats, insiders disclosed.
Raebareli has been a stronghold for the Congress party since 1952, with Sonia Gandhi representing the constituency from 2004 to 2019 before passing the baton to Rahul Gandhi for the 2024 elections. In the recent elections, Rahul Gandhi secured a decisive victory in Raebareli, defeating BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh by a margin of 3,90,030 votes. Similarly, in Wayanad, he emerged victorious, defeating CPI’s Annie Raja by 3,64,422 votes.
It is anticipated that Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, will visit Raebareli next week, underscoring the significance of the decision regarding his constituency representation.
