The Congress party is poised to secure victories in both Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, asserted Amethi candidate KL Sharma on Tuesday, following the polling on May 20. “The Congress will triumph in both Rae Bareli and Amethi, but I abstain from speculating on the margin of victory at this juncture. It has been a privilege to be the party’s candidate in the bastion of the Gandhi family,” Sharma conveyed to ETV Bharat.
In Amethi, Sharma is contesting against Union Minister Smriti Irani, while former Congress president Rahul Gandhi faces off against BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli. Sharma, who has overseen the management of the Rae Bareli and Amethi seats for the Gandhi family over the past forty years, was appointed as the candidate for Amethi at the last moment, as the Congress strategically repositioned Rahul, who served as Amethi’s representative from 2004 to 2019, to Rae Bareli.
Rahul’s mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, represented Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2024, during which Sharma meticulously managed her constituency office, coordinated developmental initiatives, and organized political and social activities. With Rahul, who was preoccupied with campaigning nationwide, entering the race in Rae Bareli, and Sharma in Amethi, senior leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra chose to camp in the two Gandhi family strongholds, leading a vigorous campaign to secure the victory of both her brother and the devoted family aide.
“Priyanka Gandhi spearheaded a very vigorous and assertive campaign over approximately two weeks in both constituencies. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also canvassed here, alongside numerous senior leaders from both parties. I extend my gratitude to all of them for their support. Our vision of social justice resonated with the electorate, who were discontented with the BJP,” Sharma remarked.
According to the Congress leader, Priyanka Gandhi remained in the region for about a fortnight, addressing over 100 public assemblies to garner backing for the party candidates and counter the BJP’s misinformation. “A clear indicator of the effectiveness of our robust campaign is the feedback we are receiving from booth managers across Rae Bareli and Amethi. They are optimistic about the results,” Sharma stated.
The feedback forms part of the training provided to the booth managers, who were tasked with mobilizing voters to the polling stations and are now registering with the local party office for verification of their efforts. After orchestrating an intense campaign, Sharma noted he was engaged throughout the polling day on May 20, overseeing the polling booths in his constituency and returning home late into the night.
“I traversed Amethi throughout May 20 to supervise the polling stations due to several reports of EVM malfunctions and other election-related issues. I reached home at 4 am this morning, managed a few hours of rest, and am now back on the move to meet with party workers in the area,” Sharma recounted. “Rahul Gandhi also patrolled Rae Bareli on May 20 to oversee the polling stations. We are currently compiling a comprehensive list of all election-related grievances and will present it to the Election Commission shortly,” he added.