New Delhi: Just like 2009, this time too there are four Gandhis in the fray from Uttar Pradesh. All four are from the illustrious Nehru-Gandhi family. While Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi are defending their seats Raebareli and Amethi respectively, Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun Gandhi are seeking re-election on the BJP ticket.
After Maneka Gandhi walked out of her mother-in-law and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's house more than 30 years ago, Sonia Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi are not on good terms. However, they have been maintaining a dignified silence over family matters and don't comment on each others - be it a political issue or a personal issue.
They avoid each others constituencies and don't campaign against each other. Younger Gandhis - Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi - share a cordial relationship.
Maneka Gandhi is contesting from Pilibhit and Varun Gandhi is contesting from Sultanpur. Among the four Gandhis, Maneka Gandhi (wife of Sanjay Gandhi) is the senior most in politics. She has been in Parliament for almost 25 years.
Sonia Gandhi entered politics only in 1998. Rahul Gandhi fought his first election in 2004. His cousin and the youngest Gandhi, Varun, entered electoral politics only in 2009.
Sonia Gandhi - Raebareli
Sonia Gandhi shifted to Raebareli in 2004. She vacated her Amethi seat for son Rahul Gandhi and moved to Raebareli in 2004. Raebareli has been a family pocket borough since the time of Indira Gandhi.
It is a well known fact that other political parties in the fray SP, BSP and even the BJP don't have a strong candidate against her. Even though the Congress suffered a humiliating defeat in the UP Assembly polls in 2012 and lost most of the seats in Raebareli, Congress leaders are confident of Sonia Gandhi's victory. The BSP has fielded Pravesh Singh against Sonia Gandhi.
According to ground reports, Sonia Gandhi may not face a tough fight this time too.
Rahul Gandhi - Amethi
The seat was earlier held by his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, his uncle Sanjay Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi easily won two previous elections from Amethi. This time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Kumar Vishwas against him. He has been camping in Amethi for over two months. Vishwas says that he will defeat Rahul Gandhi this time.
However, ground reports still favour Rahul Gandhi. The Congress claims that Vishwas is just making some noise to be in the news and the AAP has no chance at all. Not surprisingly, the AAP seems to have softened its stand and not talking much about Amethi and Rahul Gandhi these days.
The BJP is yet come declare its candidate against Rahul Gandhi.
Maneka Gandhi - Pilibhit
Maneka Gandhi is once again contesting from her old seat Pilibhit. It will be her 6th term from Pilibhit and 7th term in the Lok Sabha. In 2009, she had vacated her seat for son Varun Gandhi, who was making his debut in the electoral politics. Maneka Gandhi has a good mass following in the seat and the BJP is also organisationally quite strong. According to local analysts, it will be an easy victory for her this time too.
Varun Gandhi - Sultanpur
Varun Gandhi is contesting from Sultanpur, which shares its borders with Amethi. His fatherm the late Sanjay Gandhi had started his political career from Sultanpur in the early 1970s and was elected to Lok Sabha from Amethi. After getting the Sultanpur ticket, Varun Gandhi headed straight there and became emotional while talking about his father's long association with the place. The Congress has fielded Amita Singh, the wife of Sanjay Singh, against him. Without taking the name of Sanjay Singh, Varun said some people get egoist after winning election and become "raja" during his visit to the new constituency.
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