New UP Congress Chief Ajay Rai Claims Rahul Gandhi Can Win By 5 Lakh Votes In Amethi, Recent Poll Stats Say Otherwise

After assuming the charge of President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday (24 August), Ajay Rai claimed that an enduring bond exists between Amethi and the Congress, noting its multigenerational roots.

He confidently affirmed that the residents of Amethi would ensure Rahul Gandhi's triumphant return with an overwhelming majority in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Drawing a contrast, Rai stated that Rahul Gandhi had never deceived the people of Amethi, unlike the incumbent MP, Smriti Irani, who had promised sugar at Rs 13 per kg after her election.

Rai emphasized that the people of Amethi yearn for Rahul Gandhi to contest the election from their constituency and have faith in securing his victory by a significant margin, at least by 5 lakh votes.

Notably, Rai's assertions do not match with Amethi's sentiments as manifested in the past few elections. Amethi Lok Sabha seat has five assembly segments- Tiloi, Salon, Jagdishpur, Gauriganj and Amethi.

In the past two assembly elections- in 2017 and 2022- the Congress has not registered a single victory in these five seats.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won Tiloi, Salon and Jagdishpur assembly seats in both elections. Samajwadi Party has been winning at Gauriganj since 2012. Amethi seat was won by BJP in 2017 and by SP in 2022.

While it is true that Amethi Lok Sabha seat has been a forte of the Gandhi family, BJP's Smriti Irani managed to defeat Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 53,000 votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Not just Amethi, the Congress is a declining force in Uttar Pradesh as well. The party won just two seats in the 403 seat Vidhan Sabha.

The fact that truly demonstrates the party's poor state is that 387 of the 399 Congress candidates lost their security deposit as well.

While Rai acknowledged the challenging juncture of taking the party's helm, with the Lok Sabha elections just eight months away, he proclaimed that the activities of Congress would span villages, fields, streets, and corners of the state, declaring his determination to stand firm and unyielding.

Rai affirmed their intent to effect change in 2024 and reassured party members that they would win Uttar Pradesh in 2027. He underlined the party's united determination to place Congress at the center and envision Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister.

Underscoring Uttar Pradesh's pivotal role in achieving this goal, Rai asserted that a strong presence in the state was imperative to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister in 2024. Resolute and unyielding, Rai encouraged party members to showcase their strength in the upcoming elections.

Several party leaders welcomed Rai's appointment, anticipating his leadership to rejuvenate the Congress, which has faced a decline to a mere 2 percent vote share.

Addressing the assembly, former UPCC chief Ajay Kumar Lallu acknowledged that while the Congress had experienced a decline in vote share, he had diligently strived for the party's cause during the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic and even endured imprisonment.

Brijlal Khabri, the outgoing UPCC chief, also present on the stage, echoed the sentiment of overcoming obstacles in service of the party. Rai's steadfastness has been acknowledged by senior leaders, who view him as a capable contender to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi against all odds.