What’s stopping Rahul Gandhi from entering the fray in Amethi and Rae Bareli?

The suspense over nominations in two Congress strongholds in north India—Amethi and Rae Bareli—is expected to end within 24 hours. Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday (May 1) thatCongress’Central Election Committee (CEC) has entrusted party president Mallikarjun Kharge withthe task ofannouncing nominations on the two key constituencies.

"Nobody is scared, no one is running away,"hewas quoted as saying.

Is Rahul Gandhi unwilling to contest?

But thatnot mightbe true. As per media reports, Rahul Gandhi is unwilling to contest elections from either seat. He is also opposed tothe idea offielding any family member from the two seats, reported Hindustan Timescitinga source familiar with the development.

On May 3, the last date to announce candidature, Rahuldoesn’tplan to file nomination papers from Amethi; instead, heis expectedtobeinMaharashtra’sPuneto attend a party rally.

“Congress president (Mallikarjun) Khargeji is still trying to convince him (Gandhi), but it looks like his mindis made up,”HT quoted a party functionary as saying.

WhyRahul Gandhi isworried?

One of the topmost concerns is that Rahul has remained absent from Amethi in the last five years, focussing on his new constituency—Wayanad in Kerala.

Rahul lost Amethi in the 2019 elections to Bharatiya JanataParty’sSmriti Irani after representing the seat for 15 years. If he loses Amethi the second time in a row, it wouldgreatlydent his support base in north India, especially in the backdrop of Congress projecting Rahul as the INDIAalliance’sprincipal challenger to PM Narendra Modi.

Congress workers annoyed

Meanwhile, Congress party workers have grown frustrated with the continuing delay over theannouncement of the nomination. Amid slogans asking forRahul’snomination, Congress workers recently staged protests outside the local party office.

Significance of Rae Bareli seat

Former Congress chief andRahul’smotherSoniaGandhirepresented Rae Bareli for several termsbutnowthe seat stands vacated as Sonia hasbeen nominatedto the upper house of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha.

There are speculations thatRahul’ssister and Congress GeneralSecretaryPriyanka GandhiVadramaybe fieldedfrom the Rae Bareli seat.

But since Rahuldoesn’twant any family member tobe fieldedfrom the two seats, it remains to be seen whether these speculations turn into reality.

Both seats will go to polls in the fifth phase of the elections, dueonMay 20.

(With inputs from agencies)