Hours after Congress announced KL Sharma as its candidate from Amethi, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday took a jibe at the Gandhis for fielding a “proxy” from the constituency and not one of the family members to reclaim their lost bastion. Claiming that the Congress was scared of its defeat in Amethi, the actor-turned-politician said, “The Gandhis would have fought themselves and not fielded a proxy if they felt they could win.”
Irani’s reaction came after Congress, earlier in the day, ended the Amethi suspense, and fielded KL Sharma from the seat instead of the Gandhi siblings — Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi vadra. Sharma is believed to be a loyalist of the Gandhi family and is known be to associated with them since 1983.
“In the last 3 years, I have seen in Raibareli that Congress’ top leadership was not available for people of the constituency. In 2019, the people of Amethi rejected the Gandhi family and that’s the reason why they are scared to contest from the seat,” the Union Minister said while talking to the reporters.
Further slamming Rahul Gandhi for no development works in Amethi, the Union minister said, “I extend my best wishes for Congress candidate from Raibareli. Gandhi family members not fighting from Amethi shows that they have accepted their defeat here.”
BJP Hits Back With ‘Daro Mat’ Jibe
Soon after the Congress announced the candidature of KL Sharma from Amethi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hit back at the party claiming that the grand old party was ‘scared of its defeat’ against the saffron party in Amethi, the seat which was termed as the Gandhi family’s traditional seat.
Addressing a rally in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a jibe at the Congress, saying he had earlier predicted that the Gandhi scion would run away and look for a safe seat after polling in Wayanad is over.
Without directly pointing toward Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister asked him “not to get scared and run away”.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak also slammed the Congress decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli and said that the people of the constituency will never accept him.
No Gandhi Contender In Amethi In 2 Decades
For the first time in 25 years, a Gandhi family member will not be contesting election from the Lok Sabha seat. Considered a citadel of the Gandhi family since its creation as a constituency in 1967, Amethi has been represented by a Gandhi family member for about 31 years since then.
This election, Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha election from the Rae Bareli seat, while Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, has been fielded from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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