Amid the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Saturday said Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh was “strategic”, news agency PTI reported.
The BJP is upset because it realizes how important and strategic the decision is, the AICC spokesperson told PTI Videos.
Gandhi on Friday filed his nomination from the family stronghold Raebareli, which was held by Sonia Gandhi for two decades. The Wayanad MP has also been reappointed from the Kerala seat.
“Rahul Gandhi has the ability to get elected from Uttar Pradesh three times and once from Kerala. He can contest from the north and south of the Vindhyas. Can Prime Minister Narendra Modi contest from Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, “Karnataka? Are they? Not part of India,” Shrinate asked.
Responding to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis calling Gandhi a political tourist, he said the statement was “silly and stupid”, PTI reported.
“Fadnavis is Dy CM in a government that was formed by stealth. He, CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar have failed to protect the rights and businesses of Mumbai and Maharashtra. All of them will go to Gujarat,” he told PTI.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for labeling his brother Rahul Gandhi as “Shehzada”, ANI reported.
Addressing a rally on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections at Banaskantha, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that while Rahul Gandhi had walked 4,000 kilometres, Prime Minister Modi was sitting in his palace and would not understand the plight of farmers.
“Prime Minister Modi calls my brother ‘Shehzada’. I want to tell you that my brother walked 4,000 kilometres, met the people of the country and asked them what are the problems in their lives. On the other hand, Emperor Narendra Modi lives in palaces. How will he understand the helplessness of farmers and women? Narendra Modi is surrounded by power. People around him are afraid of him. Even if someone raises his voice, that voice is suppressed, he said.
Prime Minister Modi in his election speeches has referred to former Congress President Rahul Gandhi as “Shehzada”. On May 3, the Prime Minister criticized Rahul Gandhi for not contesting from Amethi.
“I told you earlier that Shehzaada would start looking for another safe seat for himself, fearing defeat in Wayanad. He was so scared after losing Amethi in 2019 that he fled south to Wayanad. Now, he has escaped to Raebareli. These people usually go around telling people: “Daro maat” (don’t be afraid). Now it is my turn to tell them the same: “Arey daro maat, bhaago maat” (don’t be afraid!), he said, ANI reported.
(With contributions from PTI and ANI)