Sonia Gandhi, former Congress president, delivered a heartfelt message to the residents of Rae Bareli, expressing her trust in them as she entrusted her son into their care, assuring them that he would uphold their expectations.
Having recently relinquished her seat in Rae Bareli after serving as its Lok Sabha representative for two decades since 2004, Sonia addressed a gathering in the constituency, where Rahul Gandhi is now contesting as the Congress candidate.
"I am entrusting my son to you. Just as you embraced me as your own, shower him with the same affection. Rahul will stand by you," she conveyed.
Rahul is facing off against BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh in what is considered a stronghold for the Gandhi family, alongside neighboring Amethi. These two constituencies are scheduled for polling on May 20, marking the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Campaigning in these areas concludes tomorrow.
Sonia's emotional address included gratitude towards the people of Rae Bareli for granting her the opportunity to serve as their MP for two decades.
Referring to them as her extended family, she emphasized that Amethi, too, holds a special place in her heart, highlighting the century-old bond between the Nehru-Gandhi family and the region.
"The cherished memories of my life and the deep roots of my family are intertwined with this land for the past century. This bond is as pure as Mother Ganga and traces back to the farmers’ movement of Awadh and Rae Bareli, continuing to this day," she expressed.
The rally, well-attended by supporters, featured speeches from Sonia, Rahul, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Jointly organized by the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, the event showcased solidarity between the two parties, evident in the sea of flags representing both, along with an abundance of SP's trademark red caps.
In his address, Akhilesh urged workers from both parties to ensure Rahul's victory by a historic margin, echoing chants of "Paanch lakh paar" (over five lakh votes).
Prior to this, Rahul and Akhilesh had rallied in Amethi in support of Congress candidate K.L. Sharma, who is contesting against incumbent MP Smriti Irani. Speculation had arisen about Rahul potentially contesting from Amethi and Priyanka from Rae Bareli. However, a strategic decision was made by the party to field Rahul in Rae Bareli instead.
Speaking in Amethi, Rahul reiterated his commitment to equitable development for both Rae Bareli and Amethi. "For every rupee spent on development in Rae Bareli, an equivalent amount will be invested in Amethi. That is my pledge."
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