The Amethi in Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for a big political battle. Smriti Irani, who is currently the MP there, has thrown down the challenge to Rahul Gandhi, daring him to contest from his previous constituency. The former MP of Amethi insulted the people of Amethi while campaigning in Wayanad. This has upset the people of Amethi. Additionally, Rahul and his family declined an invitation from Ram Lalla, which has also caused distress in Amethi., She openly said “I dare him (Rahul) to contest from Amethi alone in the Lok Sabha elections,”
Irani’s dig at Rahul Gandhi:
Taking a jibe at the Congress leader, saying that the people of Amethi are disappointed with Rahul Gandhi. When Rahul’s Nyay Yatra came to town, there were hardly any people on the streets to welcome it. She said “Amethi has received an investment of ₹6523 crore in the Investors Summit… The anger of the people of Amethi against the Gandhi family is visible…Today when Rahul Gandhi arrived, he was welcomed by empty streets.. In Amethi, I fought against a candidate who had the support of many people…Empty streets were showing that they have nothing to do with the Gandhi Family…” She also held a Jan Samwad in Amethi on Monday as part of a four-day visit to her parliamentary constituency.
Rahul attacks Centre
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP-led government, saying they don’t support Dalits and only know how to take rides on fancy helicopters and make money. Speaking to people in Amethi, he expressed his views saying “Did you see the Ram Mandir event? It was held with great fanfare. But did you see any Dalit faces? Our President is an Adivasi, so she wasn’t allowed to attend the event. Did you see any farmers or laborers during the event? No backward class faces were anywhere seen during the event.
But you must have seen Adani, Ambani, and their families. All the businessmen were there. Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, and Narendra Modi were there.” While ago Rahul Gandhi launched a second version of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai on January 14, covering 15 states ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi family’s relation with Amethi:
The Gandhi family has a strong connection with Amethi, a place in Uttar Pradesh. It’s been a stronghold for the Congress party since it was formed in 1967. Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s younger son, first ran for office there in 1977 but lost because of anger across the country against the Emergency. He won in 1980 but tragically died in a plane crash in 1981. His older brother, Rajiv Gandhi, then entered politics and represented Amethi from 1981 until his assassination in 1991.
Sonia Gandhi, in the begining of her political career in the late 90s, also contested from Amethi in 1999. However, in 2004, she moved to Rae Bareli, a seat previously held by her in-laws Feroze Gandhi and later by Indira Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi took over the Amethi seat in 2004 and held it until 2019, winning re-election in 2009 and 2014, but he lost to Smriti Irani in 2019 by around 55,000 votes.
