The Samajwadi Party chief does not want anyone except the two Gandhis to contest from these seats.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is seen to be keen on convincing the Congress leadership to make a careful decision on the choice of candidates from the grand old party bastions of Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha segments. Sources suggest that he doesn’t want anyone except the Gandhis (Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi) to contest from these seats.
The selection of candidates on the two seats, which have until now been contested by the Gandhis is to be seen hanging in doubt as the party’s several Congress Election Committee (CEC) meetings have skipped discussion on the seats. This has given an impression that the grand old party is not interested to field the Gandhis from the two constituencies. SP leaders think that if Congress fails to close in on such an important decision proportionately (by not fielding Gandhis), it could hurt the broad based alliance in the state where the solid formation of BJP machinery has already mapped out a strategy which may help them win over 70 out of a total 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
An SP leader said, “If the two do not contest the elections in Uttar Pradesh, it will reduce the political energy of their own cadre. And as we see it, we want them to contest so that our political existence gets amplified and we fight the election with everything we have, with all the resources. There is nothing better than the two Gandhis contesting from the state. It will mobilise their cadre as well as our cadre.”
According to a Congress leader closely associated with the two seats, “The people of Amethi want the Gandhis to contest. In Rae Bareli the preparation had started for Priyanka Gandhi sometime back but then there was an abrupt change of stance from the leadership and now the information that is coming is that it is unlikely that she would contest from the seat. There is also expectation that there could be a last moment decision for the two constituencies and at least one of them would contest from either of the seats as else it would send a negative message.”
Another leader said, “We are being told that the two seats will be contested by the Gandhis only, but the decision to field them will be made at the last moment. We don’t know if the said thing is just to keep the rank and file together and motivated or it is a reality.”
An analyst said, “Akhilesh depends on the Gandhi family for mobilisation of the opposition bloc’s rank and file in the state. If the Gandhi family does not contest from either of the seats (Amethi and Rae Bareli), it would be a political blunder which could also threaten the existence of the Congress cadre in the state. It would also mean that they have given up on North India (UP is the biggest state with 80 LS seats). Moreover, Congress has potential in only two seats in the state and if these two seats are fought by candidates other than the Gandhis, Congress will most probably lose the seats. Losing will mean that Congress will be wiped out from UP when it comes to national politics and the it will be recognised as a South Indian party.”