'Bhaag Rahul Bhaag', says Smriti Irani as Congress president considers also contesting from the south, apart from Amethi

Union Minister Smriti Irani has taken a dig at Rahul Gandhi over the prospect that he may contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad constituency in Kerala, apart from Amethi -- where he will come face to face with the BJP leader.

Citing a letter addressed to the Congress chief by a local worker in Amethi, the Textiles minister has suggested that the grand old party is concerned about Rahul Gandhi losing the Amethi seat to her, and hence, is finding another safe seat for him.

In the letter, Congress' Amethi chief Yogendra Mishra has requested Rahul Gandhi to fight from a southern state, apart from contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Amethi. He cited the example of former PM Indira Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to convince the Gandhi scion that fighting from a seat in southern state will only benefit him.

Earlier in the day, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) openly put forth a proposal for Rahul Gandhi to fight the General elections from Wayanad also.

While the Congress president is yet to take a call on it, his close aide and party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Rahul Gandhi will consider the prospect.

"KPCC has sent in their desire and request that Congress president should contest there, we thank them for their effort and expression of their love, the Congress president will positively consider it," Surjewala said during a press briefing.

READ: NOW, Congress Amethi Unit Writes To Rahul Gandhi Urging Him To Also Contest From The South

Rahul Gandhi is a three-time MP from Amethi, a constituency which is a bastion for the Gandhis. But following the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, in which Smriti Irani gave him a tough fight, the party is considering making him contest from another safe seat.

The BJP leader has gone all-out in terms of her own contributions in Amethi over the last five years, holding a series of rallies, with PM Narendra Modi doing the same just weeks earlier at the inauguration of an ordnance manufacturing unit.