New Delhi: Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has decided to continue representing his family stronghold of Raebareli in parliament as the Congress Party strategizes following the stronger-than-expected performance of opposition groups in the national election.
In India, candidates can contest from multiple constituencies but can only represent one seat in parliament, making Gandhi’s choice a focal point as analysts assess the election aftermath.
A scion of India’s political dynasty, which has produced three prime ministers, Gandhi contested and won both Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh and his previous constituency of Wayanad in Kerala in the recent polls.
His sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will contest the by-election in Wayanad to fill the vacant seat, marking her electoral debut after years of campaigning for family members and party colleagues.
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Raebareli, situated in India’s largest state for parliamentary representation, has been a Congress stronghold, with the party winning the seat in 17 out of 20 elections. Gandhi’s mother, Sonia Gandhi, won Raebareli in the 2019 elections but now serves in the upper house of parliament.
“Rahul Gandhi will retain his Raebareli seat because Raebareli has been close to him from before, that (area) has great attachment to the family, they have been fighting (in elections) from there for generations,” said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Following last week’s formation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which relies on allies to secure a majority in the 543-member house, Gandhi emerged as a key leader in an opposition alliance comprising more than two dozen parties. Together, they secured over 230 seats, significantly reducing Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party’s previous tally by over 60 seats.
