rahul-gandhi-to-contest-ls-polls-from-wayanad-as-congress-unveils-initial-candidate-list

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to enter the electoral fray once again from Kerala's Wayanad constituency, as revealed by the party on Friday with the release of its inaugural list featuring 39 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Among the key nominations, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal will vie for the Alappuzha seat in Kerala, while former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will contest from Rajnandgaon.

Additionally, Jyotsna Mahant, Tamradhwaj Sahu, and Shashi Tharoor have been nominated for the Korba, Mahasamund, and Thiruvananthapuram constituencies, respectively.

The candidate list boasts a diverse composition, comprising 15 candidates from the general category and 24 from SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities, as stated by Venugopal.

This announcement follows deliberations held by the Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC), chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, wherein discussions encompassing over 60 Lok Sabha seats across 11 states and union territories were conducted.

Emphasising the party's election readiness and active campaigning, Venugopal highlighted Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Gujarat, scheduled to culminate with a massive rally in Mumbai on March 17.

Speculations abound regarding Rahul Gandhi's potential dual candidacy, with expectations that he might also contest from Amethi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Rae Bareli, the former stronghold of Sonia Gandhi. Both constituencies hold significance as traditional bastions of the Gandhi family.

Members of the CEC, including Ambika Soni, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, T S Singhdeo, and Mohammad Jawaid, were also part of the decision-making process during the meeting.