The newly formed state election committee of the UP unit of the Congress on Sunday “unanimously recommended” that members of the Gandhi family should contest from Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies.
While former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was elected from Raebareli constituency in the last Lok Sabha elections, her son Rahul was defeated by BJP’s Smriti Irani in neighbouring Amethi. Sonia was recently elected to Rajya Sabha, and the Congress has renominated Rahul from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in its first list of 39 candidates.
At the first meeting in Lucknow on Sunday, the state election committee, led by AICC general secretary Avinash Pande, discussed the names for the 17 seats that the party is set to contest in UP as part of the INDIA alliance.
“A detailed discussion took place on Raebareli and Amethi Lok Sabha seats. Raebareli and Amethi have always been associated with the Gandhi family and these Lok Sabha seats have been close to them. Therefore, based on the sentiments of workers as well as office-bearers in Amethi and Raebareli, we have unanimously passed a proposal to request the party’s national president that whatever names are decided there, they should be from the Gandhi family. The final decision would be taken by them,” said Pande after the meeting.
During the two-hour-long meeting, the committee also discussed possible candidates for the other 15 seats. Sources said there were at least three other seats for which only one name was to be considered. They included state unit president Ajay Rai from Varanasi, former MLA Imran Masood from Saharanpur, and Tanuj Punia from Barabanki.
“On 11 Lok Sabha seats, the committee members looked into local caste equations and the profile of the applicants, and shortlisted one name that has been proposed to the central leadership. These seats include Jhansi from where the name of former MP Pradeep Jain Aditya has been suggested. Former MP Raj Babbar’s name has been shortlisted for Fatehpur Sikri, sitting MLA Virendra Chaudhary for Maharajganj, former MP Kamal Kishore Commando from Bansgaon,” said a party leader.
Sources said that on a few seats, two to three names have been proposed to the central election committee for consideration.
Story continues below this ad
“It became quite difficult to decide on the name of the candidates for Deoria from where there are many strong contenders — former MLA and state unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, former IYC national president Keshav Chand and former MLA and party spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh. So, all the three names have been proposed to the central leadership,” said the leader on the condition of anonymity.
As part of the INDIA alliance seat-sharing agreement, the Samajwadi Party and its smaller allies will contest 63 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP, leaving 17 for the Congress. These 17 seats include Raebareli, Amethi, Kanpur, Fatehpur Sikri, Bansgaon, Saharanpur, Prayagraj (previously known as Allahabad), Maharajganj, Varanasi, Amroha, Jhansi, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Sitapur, Barabanki and Deoria.
Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development.
Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity.
Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More
