Congress leader and former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat has said that Amethi is 'natural seat' of Rahul Gandhi but the Congress MP will also fight polls from Wayanad as it supported him in time of 'crisis'. This comes after leaders from Congress and other opposition parties suggested that if Priyanka Gandhi contests from Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi will lose the seat. Reacting to this, BJP challenged Rahul Gandhi to fight from Amethi. Rawat's statement hints that Rahul Gandhi might contest the 2024 elections from both Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala.
"Amethi is Rahul Gandhi's 'natural seat' but he will also fight from Wayanad because Wayanad supported him at the time of crisis," he said.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said PM Narendra Modi will go back to Gujarat and will never come again if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contests Lok Sabah elections from the Varanasi seat next year. Alvi added that Smriti Irani will lose her deposit if Rahul Gandhi contests from Amethi Lok Sabha seat.
"...If Rahul Gandhi contests from Amethi, Smriti Irani will even lose her security deposit, she might leave Amethi, but I request BJP, don't let her run away...If Priyanka Gandhi will contest from Varanasi, PM Modi will go back to Gujarat and he won't contest from Varanasi," he said.
The BJP retorted saying the Congress has no work to show to seek votes. "They didn't do any work in Amethi. The people of Amethi had defeated you [Rahul Gandhi] earlier; they will defeat you again," BJP leader Tarun Chugh said.
ALSO READ | If Priyanka Gandhi Fights From Varanasi Against PM Modi, She Will Win For Sure: Sanjay Raut