In a recent interview while on the campaign trail in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a pointed suggestion to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi regarding his electoral choices. Shah asserted that Rahul Gandhi should consider contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Shah’s statement comes as a strategic move, especially considering Rahul Gandhi’s history of securing victory in the Amethi seat over three consecutive terms since 2004. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi faced a defeat at the hands of BJP’s Smriti Irani by a margin of 55,000 votes.
Addressing the media, Shah said, “I think Rahul Gandhi should contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Amethi seat.”
While the BJP has reaffirmed its support for Smriti Irani as its candidate from Amethi, the Congress is yet to announce its nominee for the constituency. There has been speculation surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s potential return to contest from Amethi, alongside his decision to contest from Kerala’s Wayanad.
Shah’s comments also touched upon the ongoing discourse surrounding electronic voting machines (EVMs), particularly in light of recent remarks by Priyanka Gandhi alleging potential manipulation. Shah dismissed these allegations, citing past instances of Congress victories in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan using the same EVMs. He accused the Congress of resorting to criticism of EVMs only in the aftermath of electoral defeats.
Furthermore, Shah directed criticism towards West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing the Sandeshkhali issue as evidence of insecurity under the Trinamool Congress regime. The Sandeshkhali incident involved allegations of land grab and sexual harassment by TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates, sparking widespread outrage.
Responding to allegations of a “fake encounter” regarding the deaths of 29 Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, Shah vehemently dismissed such claims as baseless. He expressed confidence in the Modi government’s ability to eradicate Naxalism from the country within the next two years, emphasizing a firm stance against internal security threats.
Amit Shah’s statements not only reflect the current political landscape but also highlight the strategic narratives employed by the ruling party ahead of the upcoming elections. With the electoral battlegrounds intensifying, the dynamics of key constituencies like Amethi continue to draw significant attention.
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