News Analysis India

Tag: Priyanka Gandhi

  • Priyanka Gandhi Likely To Make Lok Sabha Poll Debut From Raebareli; Rahul To Contest From Amethi And Wayanad |

    NEW DELHI: After much anticipation, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to make her electoral debut from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, a constituency held by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for three terms, sources said on Wednesday. This move comes as Priyanka’s mother, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, announced her decision not to seek re-election from Raebareli, a seat she had secured five times in the past, including in 2019 when she emerged as the sole Congress victor in UP.

    Rahul Gandhi To Contest From Amethi And Wayanad

    Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is poised to reclaim the Congress stronghold of Amethi, which he lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani in a surprising defeat in 2019. Importantly, Rahul will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala, a seat he won in the previous general election, ensuring his Lok Sabha status.

    A formal announcement in this regard could be made after the Congress CEC meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow evening. The crucial CEC meeting has been called to finalise the Congress candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sources said that an announcement regarding Priyanka and Rahul’s candidature can be made after the two-day meeting of the CEC that is likely to conclude on March 9.

    Priyanka Gandhi’s foray into electoral politics has been long-awaited, with speculations rife after Sonia Gandhi’s withdrawal from Raebareli. The striking resemblance between Priyanka and her grandmother, Indira Gandhi, has not escaped the notice of constituents. Posters urging Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Raebareli have surfaced in the constituency, reflecting the anticipation among locals for her candidacy.

    Congress Awaiting BJP’s Move

    The BJP is yet to announce its candidate for Raebareli, following its defeat by a significant margin in 2019. However, it has been confirmed that Smriti Irani will defend her seat in Amethi, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh.

    As Priyanka Gandhi prepares to step into the electoral arena from Raebareli, and Rahul Gandhi gears up to reclaim Amethi, the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh braces for intense competition ahead of the upcoming elections.

  • ‘BJP Hatao Desh Bachao’ Akhilesh Yadav Joins Congress In Yatra |

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday participated in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra. This decision follows Akhilesh’s earlier reluctance to join the yatra until the seat-sharing arrangement with Congress in UP was finalised. As the seat allocations concluded recently, Party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra welcomed Yadav by saying, “Today is a very happy day.”  

    Demonstrating a united front against the NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Akhilesh Yadav said that the INDIA bloc, together with the backwards and minorities, will defeat the BJP. He further said that nowadays the challenge is to shield democracy and fulfil the dreams of Dr. BR Ambedkar that the BJP has ruined. “Today, there is only one message to be given Remove BJP, save the country and end the crisis (BJP hatao, desh ko bachao, sankat mitao),” he added.  

    The trio addressed the crowd, with Rahul Gandhi recalling his year-long Yatra, covering 4,000 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Rahul said, “Last year, someone told me that ‘you are trying to open a Mohabbat Ki Dukan in Nafrat Ka Bazaar.” He further said that this is what he, along with Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are trying to accomplish.  

    Before reaching Agra, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra passed the Aligarh division and went through Amroha, Sambhal, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Hathras. However, Priyanka Gandhi joined the yatra in Aligarh.

  • ‘1st Step Will Be Caste Census…’: Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi Sound Poll Buggle In Uttar Pradesh |

    Congress Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday joined the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by party MP Rahul Gandhi in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. While addressing the crowd the brother-sister duo slammed the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) over various issues, some of the top ones were the caste census and paper leaks in UP Police Constable Examinations.  

    Taking a dig at the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi said that if the majority wants to have the caste census, then the first step after the election will be the caste census. “In this country there are 50% backwards, 15% minorities, 15% Dalit, and 8% Adivasi… How many of these are in media, none… You’ll see them in the list of MGNREGA but not in the big companies,” Gandhi said, adding that 90% of people don’t get any participation. 

    Slamming PM Modi for his political tactics, Rahul said that the Modi government is distracting Indians by launching gimmicks like Bollywood and surgical strikes and ignoring crucial issues like unemployment, paper leaks, and the true well-being of the citizens. He said, “This is what the BJP system is.” He further added that patriots unite the country and do not work to disintegrate it (Deshbhakt mohabbat ki dukaan kholte hain, nafrat ke bazaar nahi chalaate).  

    Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a shot at the rising unemployment rates under the BJP’s rule. “As the BJP’s government is formed in the centre and state, unemployment rates have increased,” she asserted. She linked unemployment to a lack of facilities and persistent paper leaks, making it clear that development hinges on gainful employment. She said that the brass industry is stagnant, there is no development after the BJP’s rule.  

    As the UP Police Constable examinations are scheduled for a re-examination, Priyanka Vadra said that “the 28 lakh students wrote the exam but the paper was leaked.” She said that until the paper leaks are stopped, there will be no development. She urged the voters to cast their votes based on their experiences.

  • Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joins Rahul Gandhi in UP's Moradabad as Congress' padyatra resumes

    Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joins Rahul Gandhi in UP's Moradabad as Congress' padyatra resumes

  • Priyanka Gandhi Hospitalised, Skips Rahul-Led Nyay Yatra As It Enters Uttar Pradesh Today |

    New Delhi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will not be joining the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh on Friday to bad health conditions. “I was eagerly waiting for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to reach Uttar Pradesh, but due to illness I had to be admitted to the hospital today itself,” the leader informed via X (formerly Twitter). The Yatra is currently in Bihar and is scheduled to reach Chandauli in UP after concluding the halt in Bihar. UP is the crucial Hindi state that elects the most MPs to the Lok Sabha. 

    Gandhi further wrote that she will be joining the journey as soon as she feels better. “Till then, I wish all the passengers reaching Chandauli-Banaras, my colleagues and dear brother from Uttar Pradesh who are diligently preparing for the journey,” she added. 

    मैं बड़े चाव से उत्तर प्रदेश में भारत जोड़ो न्याय यात्रा के पहुँचने का इंतजार कर रही थी, लेकिन बीमारी की वजह से मुझे आज ही अस्पताल में भर्ती होना पड़ा। थोड़ा बेहतर होते ही मैं यात्रा में जुड़ूँगी। तब तक के लिए चंदौली-बनारस पहुंच रहे सभी यात्रियों, पूरी मेहनत से यात्रा की तैयारी…
    — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 16, 2024

    Nyay Yatra’s Route Not Shortened In UP: Cong

    Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the yatra has not been shortened in Uttar Pradesh as it will stay in the key Hindi state for eight days from 16th to 21st February before continuing to western Uttar Pradesh on 24th and 25th February.  Earlier, UPCC chief Ajay Rai had notified that the UP leg of Nyay Yatra has been revised and reduced due to the ongoing UP Board exams.

    Rai said that the changes were made due to logistical issues. He said that the places where the workers and organisers were supposed to stay are mostly private schools or colleges which will now be used for the board exams. 

    The omission of western UP from Rahul’s itinerary is important as it comes after RLD broke away from INDIA bloc. The Congress has a very weak presence in western UP and the party does not have any influential leader in the region. A senior leader said that they do not want to give an impression that Rahul’s presence in a certain area did not help them win seats.

    Rahul Gandhi, the former head of Congress, is spearheading the Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai. The yatra is now in Bihar. The Manipur-Mumbai Yatra from East to West covers 6,700 km across 15 states and aims to spread the message of “nyay” (justice) while interacting with ordinary people along the way.