Varun Gandhi, a BJP MP, has decided not to contest against his cousin Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, according to sources. The BJP had reportedly expressed interest in fielding Varun Gandhi from Raebareli, a Congress stronghold since 2004. However, Varun Gandhi opted out of the potential contest to avoid the attention that a 'Gandhi vs Gandhi' battle would bring.
There have been speculations about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting from Raebareli after her mother, Sonia Gandhi, announced that she would not be running in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Sonia Gandhi had represented the Raebareli seat since 2004 before being elected to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year.
Varun Gandhi, who currently represents Pilibhit in the Lok Sabha, was reportedly approached by the BJP to contest against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Raebareli. However, he declined the offer. Instead, Jitin Prasada, a former minister, has been fielded by the BJP in Pilibhit for the upcoming elections.
Raebareli has been a stronghold of the Congress party for many years, with prominent members of the Nehru-Gandhi family, including Indira Gandhi, representing the constituency in the past. Despite efforts by the BJP to challenge the Congress's dominance in Raebareli, the seat has remained with the Congress.
The BJP's confidence in Raebareli has been bolstered by a decline in Sonia Gandhi's vote share in recent elections. However, the Congress party has not yet made any formal announcements regarding its candidates for Raebareli and Amethi. Nominations for these seats are set to open on April 26, after the second phase of polling on April 26 in Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi is the Congress candidate.
