News Brief
PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (24 May) took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after Congress declared that he would be contesting Lok Sabha polls from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking at a rally in Bardhaman-Durgapur in West Bengal, PM Modi said that fearing defeat in Kerala's Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi decided to contest election from Raebareli.
"I had already pointed out that the prince, fearing defeat from Wayanad, is searching for another seat for himself. Now, he has had to opt for the Raebareli seat after fleeing from Amethi," PM Modi said.
Ending weeks of suspense, the Congress announced that Rahul Gandhi and Kishori Lal Sharma would contest from the traditional Nehru-Gandhi seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, respectively.
Congress decided to field Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli, a seat previously held by his mother Sonia Gandhi, instead of Amethi, from where he lost 2019 Lok Sabha elections to BJP's Smriti Irani.
"These people go around telling people daro mat (Don't be scared). I want to tell them arre daro mat; bhago mat (don't be scared, don't run away)." PM Modi made a jibe at the Gandhis.
Referring to Sonia Gandhi, PM Modi said: "Their tallest leader did not have the guts to fight the polls in Raebareli. She fled to Rajasthan and became a Rajya Sabha member."
"This time Congress is going to be reduced to fewer seats than before. Now the country is also understanding that these people are not fighting to win the elections, they are just using the election to divide the country," he added.