Congress workers want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi in 2024 Lok Sabha polls: UP party chief Ajay Rai
The Hindu
People of Amethi want Rahul Gandhi to contest 2024 polls; Congress-SP alliance to defeat BJP-led NDA; UP Cong. Chief Ajay Rai says workers, public want to rectify mistake of 2019. INDIA alliance will uproot NDA
The people of Amethi want to rectify their "mistake" of 2019 and Congress workers as well as leaders are demanding that Rahul Gandhi contest from the constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party's Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai said.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi had contested the 2019 general elections from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala. He lost Amethi to BJP leader Smriti Irani.
The seat was won by him in 2004, 2009 and 2014, and was considered a Congress bastion. Sonia Gandhi had won from Amethi in 1999. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had also represented the constituency in Lok Sabha. On the recently formed opposition grouping Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), in which the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress are partners, he asserted that the alliance formed for the parliamentary elections will be successful in Uttar Pradesh in defeating the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Mr. Rai added that the Congress-SP tie-up for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls should not be equated with the alliance of opposition parties for the 2024 elections.
In 2017, the Congress had won seven seats and the SP 47 in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. In 2022, the Congress had won just two seats. The party has one member in Lok Sabha (Rae Bareli MP Sonia Gandhi) from the politically crucial State that sends 80 MPs to the 543-member Lower House of Parliament.
"The party (Congress) workers and leaders are demanding that Rahul Gandhi contest from the Amethi parliamentary constituency, and the public want to rectify the mistake committed by them, and work with full strength to make him the Lok Sabha MP from Amethi," Mr. Rai told PTI in a telephonic interview.
The people of Amethi "feel that they were cheated and misguided", the Uttar Pradesh Congress president said hitting out at the BJP which is in power both in the state and at the Centre. Asked if the Congress will again field Sonia Gandhi from the Rae Bareli seat in 2024 or consider her daughter and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as its candidate, Mr. Rai said, "They (apparently referring to the party leadership) have to decide this." Every party worker will deliver their best to ensure that the Congress wins Rae Bareli, he said.
T.O. Mohanan is likely the UDF candidate from Kannur after K. Sudhakaran’s exclusion in Kerala Assembly polls 2026.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to file nomination from Dharmadam, seeking third term amid tough competition in 2026 polls.
World Happiness Report 2026 reveals heavy social media use lowers youth wellbeing, especially among girls in English-speaking countries.
Barcelona scores 7 against Newcastle, Liverpool and Bayern advance, setting up Champions League quarterfinal clashes with Real Madrid and PSG.
Explore India's frog conservation efforts through citizen science and sanctuaries, highlighting their critical ecological role on World Frog Day.
Assembly polls 2026: Follow updates from The Hindu on the upcoming elections in five States, on March 19, 2026
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday instructed forest department officials to ensure maintenance of elephant trenches and hanging solar fences, which have been installed in Kodagu district to control human-elephant conflict.
Indian wolf Geetha at Pilikula zoo gives birth to seven healthy pups, marking a first in captivity at the park.
Passengers on an Air India Express flight from Dehradun to Bengaluru were stranded in Chennai for over two hours due to diversion.
Explore India's missed opportunity in establishing a national gas grid amid the ongoing West Asia war's impact on energy supplies.
Maharashtra government plans to ban plastic flowers to protect local floriculture farmers and support sustainable practices.
Join Alva’s Samskrutika Vaibhava on March 21 in Mangaluru for a vibrant cultural showcase featuring over 500 student-artists.
The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on March 19, 2026