In a pointed criticism of Rahul Gandhi, BJP’s Smriti Irani ridiculed the Congress leader’s 15-year stint as the Member of Parliament from Amethi, highlighting the persisting issues of the constituency.
Addressing a public meeting in Amethi, Irani remarked, “Despite serving as an MP for 15 years, including 10 years during the UPA government at the Centre and an alliance with SP in UP, essential amenities like drinking water remained elusive for the residents of Amethi.”
๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐ & ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐ โผ๏ธ
“๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฎ ๐๐ผ ๐ญ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฎ-๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ถ ๐๐๐๐ป ๐ก๐ฎ๐ต๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ถ….”@smritiirani ji brings out the incompetence of Rahul Gandhi. pic.twitter.com/LqcCfSl95N
โ ๊ฑแดษดแดสษชแด (@sanchit_gs) April 23, 2024
Irani continued her attack, taking aim at the delay in Congress’s candidate announcement for the Amethi seat. “Just 27 days left for the election, yet the Congress has not announced its candidate. Such arrogance. What I could achieve in five years for Amethi, Rahul Gandhi could not accomplish in 15,” she added.
The Amethi Lok Sabha seat has been a stronghold of the Gandhi family for decades. Rahul Gandhi held the seat for three consecutive terms before being defeated by Irani in the 2019 elections. The seat has also been represented by his parents Sonia Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as his late uncle Sanjay Gandhi.
The political buzz around Amethi escalated with speculation about Robert Vadra, Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law, entering the fray. Vadra had earlier remarked that the people of Amethi believe that if he contests there, “they’ll have the option of correcting their mistake of electing Smritiji”. “I am sure they will ensure my victory by a huge margin if I contest,” he said.
Responding to this, Irani commented, “Jijaji ki nazar hai, saale sahab kya karenge. (brother-in-law is eyeing the seat, what will he (Rahul Gandhi) do?) There was a time when people travelling in buses would leave their handkerchief to mark their seat so that no one sits on it. Rahul Gandhi will also come to mark his seat with a handkerchief because his brother-in-law is eyeing this seat.”
Gandhi, currently contesting from Kerala’s Wayanad, was recently asked about his potential candidacy in Amethi. He replied, “I will do whatever the party orders me.”
Irani has also accused Gandhi of neglecting Amethiโs issues in Parliament. She emphasized, “After the Wayanad voting on April 26, Rahul Gandhi will visit here to claim that Amethi is his family’s domain and fuel caste-based tensions. Despite the Congress party declining the invitation for the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration ceremony, Rahul Gandhi will be observed visiting temples in Amethi. Thus, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and cautious.”
Earlier this January, key Congress figures had abstained from attending the Ram Temple’s consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, citing the BJP’s politicization of the project.
Amethi is scheduled to vote on May 20 during the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, and the deadline for filing nominations for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat is May 3.
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