Suspense over the Congress pick for Rae Bareli ended with ex-party chief Rahul Gandhi finally agreeing to contest from his family’s bastion. The seat, which until February was held by his mother Sonia Gandhi, has remained with the Congress since 1952 barring three elections – 1977, (Janata Party), 1996 and 1999 (BJP).
Mr. Rahul Gandhi is also contesting from Kerala’s Wayanad seat which went to the polls in the second phase on April 26. Opting out of a rematch for Amethi with BJP minister Smriti Irani, Mr. Rahul Gandhi will be the fourth Gandhi to represent Rae Bareli if he wins. The other Gandhis who have won from Rae Bareli include — Feroze Gandhi (1952, 1957), Indira Gandhi (1967, 1971), and Sonia Gandhi (2004, 2006, 2009, 2014, 2019). Mr. Rahul Gandhi faces an uphill battle for the seat from BJP’s candidate and Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, who had reduced Ms. Sonia Gandhi’s victory margin from 3.52 lakh votes in 2014 to 1.67 lakh in 2019. Jawaharlal Nehru’s nephew Arun Nehru, who was close to Rajiv Gandhi, represented Rae Bareli in 1980 and 1984.
As the Wayanad MP fights to save the Gandhis’ last bastion, here’s a look at his tumultuous political career.
