NEW DELHI: Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to go on a campaign trail in Raebareli on Monday, marking his first visit to the Lok Sabha constituency since he filed his candidate on May 3.
He is scheduled to hold four public meetings in Bahlawa, Hulchandpur, Sareni and Unchahar during the day, officials said.
His sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been spearheading the election campaign since May 6 and has addressed more than 30 election rallies in Raebareli. She is also campaigning in Amethi, where her family supporter Kishori Lal Sharma is running against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Smriti Irani.
On the last day of filing nominations, Rahul filed papers in the Raebareli municipal seat, which was vacated by his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Initially, Rahul was expected to fight from Amethi, where he lost last time, but as Priyanka chose not to participate, it was decided that he would fight from Raebareli, which is represented by Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
Rahul is said to have initially been reluctant to contest against Raebareli and Amethi, as he felt it was inappropriate for him to contest from the second seat, as he is the incumbent MP from Wayanad in Kerala. However, the leadership prevailed on him because the decision not to fight would leave the impression that the Gandhis had abandoned northern India.
issued May 11, 2024, 16:11 IST
