Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will retain the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh while giving up the Wayanad seat in Kerala, from which his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will run.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcement today. Kharge addressed the media after the top leadership of the Congress party deliberated on the matter at his residence.
Rahul Gandhi expressed that it was a challenging decision for him as he has a strong emotional bond with Rae Bareli and Wayanad.
"The last five years as a member of Parliament from Wayanad have been a very fantastic and enjoyable experience. The people of Wayanad gave me support, energy to fight in a very difficult time. I will never forget that....
"I will continue to visit Wayanad and the promises we made to Wayanad will be fulfilled," he said.
Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who are the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, party general secretaries, and among those present during the discussions.
"Rahul Gandhi won from two Lok Saba seats but as per the law, he has to vacate one. Rahul Gandhi will retain Rae Bareli and we have decided that Priyanka ji will fight from Wayanad," Kharge said after the meeting.
Rahul Gandhi said both Rae Bareli and Wayanad "will get two MPs".
"I have an old relation with Rae Bareli and I am very happy that I will be representing it. This was not an easy decision, because affection is with both (Wayanad and Rae Bareli)," he said Rahul Gandhi has to vacate one of the seats within 14 days of the Lok Sabha results, which came out on June 4.
"I won't let the people of Wayanad feel Rahul's absence," Priyanka Gandhi said.
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