Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his choice to run for Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh during an address at an election rally in the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat. PM Modi said, Rahul Gandhi is afraid and hopping from seat to seat.
PM Modi Takes a Dig at Rahul Gandhi’s Nomination Strategy
PM Modi mocked Rahul Gandhi for choosing his seat, saying he was afraid of losing. PM Modi called Gandhi “Shehzada,” recalling how he had said that Rahul Gandhi willlose the election in Wayanad. He ridiculed the speculation of Gandhi’s party officials that he would run from Amethi, only to see Gandhi flee in panic to Rae Bareli. “People like these tell people daro mat,” remarked Prime Minister Modi. I sincerely tell him, “Arey daro mat, bhago mat,” today as well.
Significance of Rae Bareli Seat for Congress
Rae Bareli is important for Congress because it was the only constituency in Uttar Pradesh that the Congress won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In that election, Sonia Gandhi beat her rival Dinesh Pratap Singh by approximately 1,67,000 votes. Sonia Gandhi got 5,34,918 votes, while the BJP candidate got 3,67,740 votes.
As May 3 is the deadline for filing nominations for the two seats up for grab in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Rae Bareli adds an element to his electoral maneuvering.
Congress and TMC in the Electoral Crosshairs
Not only did Prime Minister Modi criticise Rahul Gandhi, but he also targeted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Modi presented the TMC as a party that is in decline, accusing it of marginalising Hindus in the state. With a certain assurance, he declared that the TMC would not win more than 15 seats in the Lok Sabha and questioned the party’s capacity to form a government with such a small number. Modi predicted that the Congress wouldn’t get more than 50 seats, which would rule out the possibility of forming a government.
