Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress is exploring the choice of fielding Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu within the 2024 Lok Sabha election, ThePrint has learnt.
Rahul, the MP for Kerala’s Wayanad, had launched into his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari, which is at present represented by the Congress’ Vijay Vasanth.
A number of get together leaders ThePrint spoke to confirmed that the Kanyakumari choice was being explored however they added {that a} last name was but to be taken. In 2019, some Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu proposed to the excessive command to subject Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Kanyakumari however she selected to not contest, a celebration MP instructed ThePrint.
There are two causes cited to clarify the explanation for a brand new choice being explored.
First, it is going to pitch him instantly towards the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) from a seat that’s thought of secure for the Congress, particularly in an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Left.
Second, get together leaders contend, Rahul contesting towards the Left in Kerala was resulting in an ungainly state of affairs, given his proximity with senior Left leaders reminiscent of CPI(M) normal secretary Sitaram Yechury. They, nevertheless, keep that the first purpose for his probably shift is the truth that he wish to be seen as taking up the BJP.
A frontrunner famous that, even in 2019, Kanyakumari was shortlisted together with Bengaluru Rural (previously Kanakapura), now represented by D.Okay. Suresh, earlier than a last-minute manoeuver clinched it in favour of Wayanad. It’s speculated that Congress normal secretary Okay.C. Venugopal could also be fielded from there if Rahul strikes on to Kanyakumari.
Contesting from Kanyakumari signifies that Rahul shall be a joint candidate of the Left and the Congress. He can even have Shashi Tharoor for firm in adjoining Thiruvananthapuram. Initially part of erstwhile Travancore kingdom, the 4 taluks comprising Kanyakumari had been ceded by Kerala to Tamil Nadu following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
In 2019, Rahul misplaced from the Gandhi pocket borough of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. With BJP’s Smriti Irani consolidating her maintain over Amethi, it appears to be like a protracted shot for him to wrest the seat beneath the current circumstances. That leaves him with Wayanad the place the first opposition is the Left. Poor optics apart, it additionally leaves room for interpretation that he’s shying away from a direct contest with the BJP.
It’s on this context — and the repackaging of Rahul following his yatra — that his Lok Sabha seat is again in focus. Constituencies in Karnataka are deemed too dangerous, even when the Congress had been to win the forthcoming state election, because the voting sample is completely different in elections to the legislative meeting and to Parliament.
So, in keeping with sources within the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the get together zeroed in on Kanyakumari.
In 1969, when Okay. Kamaraj fought a Lok Sabha bypoll on this constituency (previously Nagercoil), the ruling DMK had joined palms with the Swatantra Occasion however didn’t cease the Congress veteran’s thumping win.
Venugopal, who was in Kochi to inaugurate a Congress Mandalam workplace on 19 March, neither confirmed nor denied the potential for Rahul contesting from Kanyakumari. He instructed ThePrint that Congress leaders are asking Rahul to contest from completely different seats, but it surely’s too early to take that decision.
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Hindi heartland versus South
Many Congress leaders from the Hindi heartland are of the opinion that Rahul ought to attempt to wrest Amethi again, however the loyalists are cautious of the harm that may be prompted if he loses a second time.
For a few of these leaders, Rahul not contesting from the heartland will ship a incorrect message to the voters, and can badly have an effect on the fortunes of the get together, à la 2019.
Each Rahul’s mom Sonia Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi beforehand contested from the South, Karnataka and (undivided) Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
Sonia contested towards the BJP’s Sushma Swaraj in 1998, and Indira selected to contest from Medak in 1980 whereas concurrently attempting to win again Rae Bareli after shedding it to Raj Narain in 1977. Indira received from each seats and later resigned from Rae Bareli. She additionally contested from Chikmagalur in a bypoll in 1978 after the Rae Bareli loss, which set the stage for her comeback after the Emergency.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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