In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Smriti Irani, the Union minister and BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, has declared that her real challenger in the constituency is Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Despite the Congress fielding Gandhi family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma against Irani, the sitting Amethi MP, Irani believes that Priyanka is the one to watch out for.
“I do not want to indulge in juvenile politics,” the incumbent Amethi MP told News18 when asked about Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from nearby Rae Bareli instead of his former constituency and his sister not making her electoral debut despite much speculation.
The Battle of Gandhis for Amethi
Amethi has been a high-profile battleground for decades, with both Amethi and Rae Bareli being synonymous with the Gandhis. Here’s a brief overview:
- Rahul Gandhi: In 2014, Rahul Gandhi won from Amethi by a margin of 1.07 lakh votes. However, in 2019, Smriti Irani defeated him, ending his winning streak. Rahul also contested from Kerala’s Wayanad and won, maintaining his status as a Member of Parliament (MP).
- Sonia Gandhi: The siblings’ mother, Sonia Gandhi, represented Rae Bareli and won five consecutive elections from there. She recently vacated the seat and moved to the Rajya Sabha.
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Priyanka has been campaigning extensively for both Amethi and Rae Bareli. While she fights from the backstage in Amethi, her brother Rahul stands from Wayanad and Rae Bareli.
Smriti Irani’s Take
Smriti Irani has taken a dig at Priyanka, stating that at least Rahul fought from the front in 2014. She believes that Priyanka’s role is more behind-the-scenes. Irani’s victory in 2019 marked a significant shift in the political landscape of Amethi, and this time, she is ready for another intense battle against the Gandhis.
As the election season unfolds, all eyes will be on Amethi to see whether Priyanka Gandhi Vadra can prove herself as a formidable opponent or if Smriti Irani will retain her seat in this high-stakes contest.
Both constituencies will poll in the fifth phase on May 20. Rae Bareli, the ruling BJP, has given a ticket to Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, who lost to Sonia Gandhi in 2019, though he managed to reduce the victory margin significantly.
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Nikhil Malhotra 
