Rahul, Sonia Gandhi stamp awaited for Congress candidates in Amethi, Rae Bareli posts

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

While the state Congress is in the process of finalising candidates for upcoming local body elections in the state, municipal boards and nagar panchayats falling under Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies have been left out of the exercise, awaiting directions from Delhi.

The deadline set for districts to send names of probable candidate for municipal corporations, boards and nagar panchayats was October 25. While most districts have held two to three meetings, about 60 per cent have sent their list. For the remaining, the deadline has been extended to October 27.

Amethi and Rae Bareli are represented by party’s vice-president Rahul Gandhi and president Sonia Gandhi, respectively. Congress, which is aiming for a revival in the elections, had started the process much before the formal poll notification. Sources said the final decision for these seats has been left to the Gandhi family.

“There is nothing unusual about it. Like in the past, Rae Bareli, Amethi and even Sultanpur this time are not part of our process. For the remaining districts, the last date to submit the panel of names is October 27 and all the districts have promised to meet this deadline,” said Satish Azmani, who is heading the state level committee formed to look after urban local body elections in the state. He said that since some areas of Sultanpur panchayats fall under Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, it has also not been touched.

State party chief Raj Babbar too said that, except for Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur, the process is ongoing in the rest of the state.

While there is no municipal corporation either in Amethi or Rae Bareli, there are two municipal boards in Amethi — Gauriganj, which is a newly formed board and Jias. In Rae Bareli, there is a one board and five nagar panchayats as per 2012 records.

“It is too early right now. The process is yet to take off but guidelines formed by UPCC would be followed here as well,” claimed Chandrakant Dubey, representative of Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.

In Rae Bareli, party spokesperson Vinay Dwivedi said, “Abhi to koi nirdesh prapta nahi hua hai Nagar Palika ke sambandh mein (So far no direction has been received regarding Nagar Palika elections).”

While Sultanpur district president KK Mishra said, he would follow the guidelines as given by the party, when asked about sending the panel of names, he said, “It is too early. Notification has not yet been made and even there is confusion on the reservation status as well on some of the seats.”