Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, likely to contest from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats: Sources

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Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, likely to contest from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats...

by Manisha Das

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Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi are likely to contest the Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats, respectively, sources said on Thursday.

New Delhi, April 25: Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi are likely to contest the Lok Sabha election from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats, respectively, sources said on Thursday.

According to the sources, the final decision will be taken after April 26 and nominations can be filed next week. Phase 2 of the elections are scheduled for Phase 2. In this phase Wayanad from where Rahul Gandhi is contesting will go to the polls.

Smriti Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi. Irani has again been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from the seat.

As per the seat agreement between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Congress will contest 17 seats and the Samajwadi Party the remaining 63 seats in the electorally crucial state.
Apart from its traditional strongholds of Rae Bareli and Amethi, the Congress is also contesting on Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Kanpur.

Earlier, posters featuring Robert Vadra, husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, appeared outside the party's office on Wednesday in the Gauriganj area of Amethi. This raised speculations of a possible ticket for Vadra.

However, the Congress appears to be wanting to put up a fight for every seat that it is contesting and has thus decided on fielding the Gandhi sibling. Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

However, Rahul Gandhi will not find the going easy in his erstwhile bastion as Union Minister Smriti Irani has been campaigning extensively in the constituency. On April 8, the Union Minister questioned Rahul Gandhi's loyalty to Amethi.

"BJP workers know that the Gandhi family will come to contest elections from Amethi. PM Narendra Modi sends ration to 19 lakh citizens in Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, if the Gandhi family is against Narendra Modi, so these 19 lakh citizens who are getting free ration, what will the Gandhi family say to these families?... I went to Wayanad a few days ago and got the information that Rahul Gandhi has declared Wayanad as his family...Yesterday a Congress leader said that Rahul Gandhi chose Wayanad because Rahul Gandhi says that the people of Wayanad are more loyal. So what about the loyalty of Amethi," she said in a news conference.

Rae Bareli is a Congress bastion since 1960 with both Feroze Gandhi and Indira Gandhi having represented it. Sonia Gandhi has been the MP from the constituency since she won the 2006 by poll. With Sonia moving to the upper house, the Congress is likely to field Priyanka Gandhi who is a general secretary in the party.

(ANI)

Balangir, Nuapada Become "Hubs Of Migrant Workers" Under Naveen Govt: Dharmendra Pradhan

by Hemanta Pande

Balangir/Nuapada, May 4: Union Minister and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday asserted that number of migrant workers from Odisha to other states has risen steadily during the last 24 years of Naveen Patnaik government.

Speaking at the BJP’s “Paribartan Samabesh” (Election rally for change), Pradhan mentioned that a large section of young men and women from Hinjili in Odisha's Ganjam district, which Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been representing for many years, are migrating to other states in search of work. Similarly, Balangir and Nuapada districts have become the hub of the migrant workers under the Naveen government. “Is this the ‘transformation’ of the 24-year-old Naveen government in the state?” he asked.

The Union Minister today participated in the BJP’s “Paribartan Samabesh” in Khariar assembly constituency of Nuapada district and Kantabanji, Titilagarh and Loisingha constituencies of Balangir district and campaigned for his party candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha and State assembly polls.

Pradhan said the intellectuality in Balangir district is not low in any way. In 24 years of Naveen rule, the district lagged in every sector. It has been published in the newspaper that Balangir will become a desert by 2050. It has been reported that there will be rain for only 50 days. Titilagarh became “Tatlagarh” (sizzling place). “Who is responsible for this?” he asked.

Most of the people from Hinjili constituency, represented by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over last two decades, are migrating to other states in search of work. Besides Hinjili, the Chief Minister will contest from Kantbanji assembly seat in the ensuing elections. Kantabanji has become a hub of the migrant workers. When we pointed out the real picture of the backward region, the Chief Minister alleged that the opponent leaders are shedding crocodile tears. Will the Chief Minister publish a white paper on the fact that how many people of Hinjili and Kantbanji get employment and self-employment under his rule? In the upcoming elections, people have already decided not to make Kantbanji as another Hinjili.

The Minister reiterated that Odisha's Asmita (identity) is under threat. Odisha's culture, language and traditions are under threat. The outside leaders are conspiring against the State and considering Odisha as their jagir (freehold land). They are taking advantage of the Chief Minister’s inefficiency and trying to rule the state from the backdoor entry. BJD has no issues for the people. They have no responsibility. They can only distribute money during the elections. People will not accept the BJD’s money.and give a befitting reply to the “inefficient and corrupt” ruling party in the upcoming elections

Speaking at a public meeting at Khariar, Pradhan said in the last 10 years the Narendra Modi government has given a total of Rs 4,963 crores to about 1,34,212 families of Nuapada district for houses, toilets, food, cooking gas, Mudra loans, assistance to women self help groups. He said that the Centre has given more than Rs 3,69,000 and around RS 4 lakh rupees per family. Although Khariar is an agriculturally backward area, there is a railway line on one side. The Minister promised new railway connections from Kantbanji to Khariar if the BJP vote to power.

Pradhan requested people to cast their vote in favour of BJP candidates both in Lok Sabha an assembly polls for the all-round development of the region.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase one on May 13, Phase two on May 20, Phase three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1.

The results will be announced on June 4.

Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, likely to contest from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats: Sources

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