'Don't be scared, don't run away': PM Modi teases Rahul Gandhi over Rae Bareli nomination

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (May 3) roasted opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his last-minute nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency.

Addressing a rally in the eastern state of West Bengal, PM Modi challenged the Wayanad MP to face BJP in Amethi and not run away or be scared.

While referring to his old remark, the PM had said in the past, Rahul Gandhi had been searching for a safe seat for himself after voting in Wayanad in the southern state of Kerala.

“I had already said that the Shehzada was going to lose in Wayanad. I had said that as soon as the polling was completed in Wayanad, he would start looking for another seat... He is so scared of Amethi that he is running towards Rae Bareli. They ask everyone 'daro mat'. Today, I also ask them, 'daro mat, bhago mat'… (don't be scared, don't run),” the PM said during his address.

PM Modi also took a dig at Sonia Gandhi for vacating the Rae Bareli seat and moving to the Rajya Sabha.

“I had already said in the parliament that Congress biggest leader will not dare to fight elections and she will run away," he added.

Watch: India elections: Congress fields Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli too, India's oppn party ends suspense

After a long suspense, the Congress on announced early Friday that Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli.

In Amethi, Kishori Lal Sharma will be contesting on the seat which has been a family bastion for the Gandhis before Smriti Irani of BJP won it.

Both Rahul and Sharma will file their papers on Friday, the last day for nominations for the fifth phase of the elections to be held on May 20.

Sonia Gandhi, former Congress chief and Rahul’s mother, represented Rae Bareli for several terms but now the seat has been vacated as Sonia was nominated to the upper house of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha.

Also read: Who is KL Sharma, the Congress candidate challenging BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi?

Earlier, there were speculations that Rahul’s sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might be fielded from the Rae Bareli seat.

Both seats will go to polls on May 20.