As of midnight, the party had not released any names and looked prepared to leave it to nomination time on Friday, the last date for filings.
For two days, people were worried about Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will fight from up.
Sources said Rahul had expressed his reluctance to play but by midnight he was considering playing with Rae Bareli instead of Amethi, whom he represented from 2004-19.
Rae Bareli, sitting MP Sonia Gandhi, has moved to the Rajya Sabha. Rahul had apparently earlier agreed to play. Late into the night, sources said party leaders were trying to talk him out of his reluctance. Priyanka can barely contest the LS polls. If none of them run, party loyalists will file papers.
Congress President Malika Junhaq, Rahul Gandhi AICC general secretary KC Venugopal was said to have discussed the subject after a public rally in Shimoga, Karnataka, on Thursday afternoon. “The final decision will only be known after it is officially announced. It is still unclear,” a senior leader said.
While there are reports that members of the Gandhi family may travel to Amethi and Rae Bareilly on Friday morning, this is already election time, given the association between the Congress first family and the seat that was once considered its ward. An ancient tradition.
Speculation about twin seats has reached a fever pitch in the past few days. Many alliance party officials who came out of a preparatory meeting held by constituency manager KL Sharma on Thursday told reporters that Rahul will file his nomination on Friday morning.
By late night, reports emerged that the Congress had sought permission from the government for the roadshow, while Amethi’s video of a truck delivering a signboard carrying pictures of Rahul and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also went viral on social media.
According to a party manager, there has been indecision on the issue due to various reasons, the key being Rahul’s fear of leaving Wayanad, which he won in 2019 despite losing Ami West. While Rahul has expressed confidence about his prospects in Amsi, in line with the positive feedback from the party, he has been worried about the prospect of an eventual exit from Kerala.
