Conceded Defeat Before Polls: Smriti Irani's First Reaction After Rahul Ditches Amethi

New Delhi: In her first reaction following Gandhis' decision to withdraw from Amethi, Union Minister Smriti Irani while speaking to Republic World said, “We alrey said that he (Rahul Gandhi) will find a new seat after election in Wayan. People of Wayan must be feeling betrayed.”She stressed that absence of any Gandhi family member contesting from constituency itself signifies Congress party's acknowledgement of its impending defeat in ir bastion even before elections. “No member of Gandhi family contesting from Amethi in itself indicates that Congress has accepted its defeat from Amethi even before elections”, Irani stated. 

'Rahul Gandhi Betrayed Wayan' -- Smriti Irani to Republic | Highlights From Her Interaction With Republic

• Congress' flawed strategy led to ir loss in Amethi, a stronghold for 50 years.
• Acceptance of defeat without contesting from Amethi questions Rahul Gandhi's leership.
• KL Sharma becomes a scapegoat for Cong's failure, lacking political existence.
• Rae Bareli, anor tritional Cong bastion, also slipping away as seen in cooperative elections.

Upping ante furr, she asked, "If development was possible in Amethi in last five years under BJP MP, n why did Congress harm Amethi over last many deces?" "Today is victory of people of Amethi...In last three years, Congress' top leership was not present re for public. Jinhe Amethi ne aswikaar kar diya, Amethi chhor ke Wayan chalegaye, woh Raebareli ke purnatah kabhi nahi ho paayenge (y left Amethi and went to Wayan, y will never be fully accepted in Raebareli)," Irani predicted furr. 

Earlier while talking to Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, Irani h predicted that Congress will likely lose ir security deposit if y fight in Amethi. Asserting that Congress is currently “suffering from disease called communism”, Irani h said, “This party has not only looted Hindus but also tried to fool Muslims of our country”.  

'Daro Mat, Bhaago Mat’

Earlier in day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on Rahul by using RaGa's own phrase, "Daro Mat" (don't be afraid), to ridicule him. For unversed, Gandhi h frequently used phrase 'Daro Mat' to accuse BJP government of using investigative agencies to intimidate opposition leers.  

“I h alrey said in Parliament that ir (Congress) biggest leer will not dare to fight elections and she will run away. She ran away to Rajasthan and came to Rajya Sabha... I h alrey said that Shehza was going to lose in Wayan. I h said that as soon as polling was completed in Wayan, he would start looking for anor seat... He is so scared of Amethi that he is running towards Raebareli. y ask everyone 'Daro Mat'. Today, I also ask m, 'Daro Mat, Bhago Mat'...”, PM Modi said while dressing a rally in Bardhaman-Durgapur, West Bengal. 

Gandhis Abandon Amethi

Amethi has indeed been deeply associated with Gandhi family, serving as a stronghold for m in Indian politics for deces. This upcoming election marks a significant shift as it will be first time in 25 years that a member of Gandhi family won't be contesting from Lok Sabha seat re. Congress stronghold faced a notable defeat in 2019 general elections when BJP's Smriti Irani secured victory over Rahul Gandhi by a considerable margin.

This time Rahul Gandhi has opted to contest from safe seat of Rae Bareli, while Kishori Lal Sharma, a trusted aide of Gandhi family, is set to run for Amethi Lok Sabha seat. Sharma has been a pivotal figure in managing se prestigious constituencies on behalf of Gandhis.

It's worth noting that last instance of a non-Gandhi candidate contesting from Amethi was in 1998 when Satish Sharma, a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, ran in polls but was defeated by BJP's Sanjaya Sinh. However, Sonia Gandhi reclaimed seat in 1999 with a significant victory margin.

Following this, Sonia shifted her focus to neighbouring Rae Bareli constituency in 2004, paving way for her son Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi, where he secured victory for three consecutive terms until his defeat to Smriti Irani in 2019, making helines as a 'giant killer'. Amethi comprises five assembly segments. constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli are scheduled to go to polls on May  20.