Congress Likely To Announce Lok Sabha Candidates For High-Profile Amethi, Raebareli Seats In Next 24 Hours

The Congress Party is expected to reveal its candidates for the crucial Lok Sabha seats in Amethi and Raebareli within the next 24-30 hours, according to senior party leader Jairam Ramesh.

The party's Central Election Committee (CEC) has empowered Congress President Mallikalrujun Kharge to take a decision which will be announced in 24-30 hours, Ramesh said at a press briefing on Wednesday (1 May).

"Nobody is scared, no one is running away," he said, NDTV reported.

Amethi and Raebareli, historically significant for the Congress, have been the centre of attention, with the party not naming candidates for these constituencies in its latest list of nominations released earlier this week.

This has led to speculation and unrest among the local party workers, culminating in a protest at the party office in Amethi on Tuesday, where slogans supporting the Gandhi family were raised.

Speculation has been rife that the party would field its former president Rahul Gandhi - who lost the family bastion in a shock defeat to the BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019 - from Amethi again and he will contest both from there and Kerala's Wayanad, replicating his strategy from the previous Lok Sabha elections.

For Raebareli, previously held by Sonia Gandhi since 2004, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is widely anticipated to be the candidate, marking her electoral debut.

In response to the speculation, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said the decision will be taken by the CEC. 

Elections for these seats are scheduled for May 20, during the fifth phase of polling.

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