The Congress party has deep roots in Rae Bareli, with its leader Rahul Gandhi currently set for a significant victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Election Commission data indicated Gandhi leading by almost 4 lakh votes against BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh. This margin is the highest in Uttar Pradesh, contrasting sharply with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lead of over 1.4 lakh votes in Varanasi against Congress’ Ajay Rai.
Apart from Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi’s dual candidacies sees him contesting from Wayanad in Kerala as well, with him leading with a commanding majority of 3.6 lakh votes from there.
In 2019, Sonia Gandhi secured Rae Bareli by a margin of 1.67 lakh votes against Singh. Having held the seat since 2004, she opted to move to the Rajya Sabha for the 2024 elections, with Rahul Gandhi stepping in as the Congress candidate for Rae Bareli.
Gandhi-Nehru family history etched in Rae Bareli
Rae Bareli’s connection to the Gandhi-Nehru family dates back to 1952 when Feroze Gandhi, son-in-law of Jawaharlal Nehru, first represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha. Feroze Gandhi’s tenure laid a strong foundation, further strengthened by Indira Gandhi, who won the seat in 1967, 1971, and 1980.
The seat has been a bastion for Congress, with prominent figures like Arun Nehru, Sheila Kaul, and Satish Sharma, all close to the Gandhi family, representing it over the years.
Indira Gandhi’s victory in 1967 marked her first Lok Sabha poll win, followed by an improved performance in 1971. Despite her electoral success, her tenure was marred by controversy, with Raj Narain challenging her victory and leading to a pivotal judicial verdict that contributed to the declaration of the Emergency in 1975.
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Although Indira Gandhi lost the seat to Raj Narain in the 1977 elections post-Emergency by 50,000 votes, Congress reclaimed it in 1980, showcasing the constituency’s enduring support for the Gandhis.
Key members and representatives of Rae Bareli
Following Feroze Gandhi’s demise in 1960, R P Singh and Baij Nath Kureel represented Rae Bareli. Sheila Kaul, Indira Gandhi’s aunt, held the seat in the late 1980s and early 1990s, maintaining the constituency’s close ties to the Gandhi family.
In the 1996 Lok Sabha polls, BJP’s Ashok Singh won Rae Bareli, with over 1.6 lakh votes. Ashok Singh won from the seat again in 1998 with almost 2.4 lakh votes, albeit not for long.
In 1999, Congress’s Satish Sharma represented Rae Bareli until Sonia Gandhi decided to contest from there, solidifying the seat’s significance within the party.
Sonia Gandhi’s tenure from 2004 to 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw her winning Rae Bareli multiple times, though her margins decreased in recent years. Her decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Rae Bareli in 2024 reflected a strategic move to leverage the constituency’s historical and emotional significance, especially after his defeat in Amethi in 2019.
Sonia Gandhi’s bids adieu to Rae Bareli
Sonia Gandhi, in her farewell message, expressed confidence that Rae Bareli would continue to support her family. She announced her decision not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to health and age concerns, marking the end of her tenure since 2004. “I am proud to say that whatever I am today, I am because of you and I have always done my best to honour your trust,” she said.
“My family in Delhi is incomplete without you. It completes when I come to Rae Bareli and meet all of you. My ties with you are very old. I have inherited these ties as a good fortune from my in-laws,” she added.
Highlighting the deep-rooted ties, she mentioned, “Rae Bareli sent my father-in-law Feroze Gandhi to Lok Sabha in the first general election held after Independence. After that, you accepted my mother-in-law Indira Gandhi…You allowed me space to walk along on this shining path. I came to you after losing my mother-in-law and husband and you accepted me with open arms.”
Why Congress picked Rae Bareli for Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi underscored the party’s strategic move to leverage the constituency’s historical significance. The decision comes after Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi in 2019 to BJP’s Smriti Irani.
Kishori Lal Sharma is contesting from Amethi, marking a significant shift as it is the first time in 25 years that a non-Gandhi family member is contesting from this seat. This was a smart move by the party as Sharma achieved victorious against Irani on Tuesday.
The party’s strategy also addresses the need for a prominent North Indian leader in Congress leadership, balancing the representation between the northern and southern states. The Congress has historically performed better in southern states, and strengthening its presence in the north is crucial for electoral success.
Rae Bareli’s long association with the Congress party and the Gandhi family remains unwavering. From Feroze Gandhi’s initial representation to Rahul Gandhi’s current candidacy and now victory, the constituency’s loyalty to the grand old party continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh.
With inputs from agencies
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