Rahul Gandhi ran as an Amethi candidate in the most recent Lok Sabha elections, but BJP candidate Smriti Irani prevailed. He now represents Rae Bareli after serving as Amethi's representative from 2004 to 2019.
Rae Bareli, which has historically served as the ideological and political hub of the State, ought to once again serve as a model for development and progress for Uttar Pradesh and the nation, according to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on May 18.
In a post on X, he shared a video with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, from which they recalled their early years while traveling through Rae Bareli, the constituency from where he is running for the Lok Sabha seat that his mother Sonia Gandhi resigned.
"Rae Bareli has an important role in India's progress, in giving direction to the country. RaeBareli has for years been Uttar Pradesh's political and ideological center, and it was Rae Bareli that showed the path in the freedom struggle," he said in the over four-minute video.
"Today, the role of Rae Bareli should be one that first shows the path to Uttar Pradesh's progress and development and then Uttar Pradesh should once again show the path of progress and development to India," he also said.
Rahul Gandhi ran as an Amethi candidate in the most recent Lok Sabha elections, but BJP candidate Smriti Irani prevailed. This time, he is now representing Rae Bareli after serving as Amethi's representative from 2004 to 2019.
He made fun of prominent BJP officials by claiming he has always respected his family, has strong relationships with each member, and does not let politics interfere.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on May 18 said Rae Bareli should once again show the path to progress and development to Uttar Pradesh and the country as it has been the ideological and political center of the State in the past.
Sharing a video with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a post on X, he recollected memories of their childhood while passing through Rae Bareli, from where he is contesting on the Lok Sabha seat vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi.
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“"Rae Bareli has an important role in India's progress, in giving direction to the country. RaeBareli has for years been Uttar Pradesh's political and ideological center, and it was Rae Bareli that showed the path in the freedom struggle," he said in the over four-minute video.”
"Today, the role of Rae Bareli should be one that first shows the path to Uttar Pradesh's progress and development and then Uttar Pradesh should once again show the path of progress and development to India," he also said.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi had contested from Amethi but lost to BJP's Smriti Irani. After representing Amethi from 2004 to 2019, he has shifted to Rae Bareli this time.
Taking a swipe at top BJP leaders, he said he has respected his family and shared good ties with all family members and does not allow politics to come in.
Rahul Gandhi’s political journey from Amethi to Rae Bareli in 20 years
"When you do politics, if you do not respect your family and cannot maintain your relations in the family, you cannot keep ties outside [the family] too," he said.
"If you lie in your daily life, you will lie in politics," Gandhi said.
"While going to Rae Bareli, Priyanka and I also passed through the streets of (our) childhood for some time. There are so many sweet and sour memories, grandmother's wisdom, father's favourite jalebis, the cakes made by Priyanka, it seems like it all happened just yesterday," he also said in a post in Hindi on X.
"We have had a deep relationship with politics since childhood, but politics never came between our relationships," he added.
Priyanka Gandhi also exhorted people to use voting as a weapon in order to stay focused on their goal of guaranteeing growth and advancement in their lives.
"Do not get diverted at any level in this election. Remain focussed like Arjun and keep focussing on your target like Arjun's aim on the eyes of fish. You have to remain focussed the same way on your target and your development. Your vote is the biggest weapon in your hand. Use it effectively and this will change your future," she said in the video shared by Rahul Gandhi.
