Amid uncertainty about who will be the Congress candidate against BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai emphasized that both Amethi and Wayanad are equally significant for Rahul Gandhi. Rai took a dig at Smriti Irani's recent remarks accusing Rahul Gandhi and Congress of being absent from Amethi after the 2019 loss, suggesting that her language has been deteriorating and she might need medical attention.
As of now, the Congress has not named any candidate from Amethi and Raebareli, while Rahul Gandhi has already filed his nomination from Wayanad. There's speculation about him contesting from both Wayanad and Amethi, similar to 2019. Additionally, businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has shown interest in contesting from Amethi.
There were rumors about Priyanka Gandhi making her electoral debut from Raebareli, the seat previously held by her mother Sonia Gandhi before her shift to the Rajya Sabha. Senior Congress leader AK Antony hinted that either Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi, not Robert Vadra, will contest from either Amethi or Raebareli.
In response to Smriti Irani's criticism that no one from the Gandhi family was seen in Amethi during the Covid pandemic, Ajay Rai defended, stressing the Gandhi family's connection with Amethi and asserting that both Amethi and Wayand hold significance for Rahul Gandhi. He suggested that Smriti Irani might need medical help, implying that her comments were irrational.
Since winning against Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 elections, Smriti Irani has purchased a home in Amethi and has become a registered voter there. She accused Rahul Gandhi of neglecting Amethi's development for 15 years, despite having support from the central and state governments led by his family.
