Priyanka Gandhi has been advised to contest elections from Prayagraj according to a senior party functionary who is aware of its perks but she still needs permissions from brother Rahul Gandhi and Mother Sonia Gandhi.
It has been heard that Priyanka Gandhi will contest from Varanasi, against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She made a public statement on Sunday stating the same but only if her brother asked her to. On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi in an interview with The Hindu on April 18, 2019, refused to rule out the option of Priyanka Gandhi taking over Narendra Modi.
A senior told HT that, “She [Priyanka Gandhi] has been advised to contest from Allahabad, The party has been traditionally stronger there. Her nomination will have a huge impact on the entire Purvanchal region.”
While on the other hand, the BJP has rubbed off eastern UP in the 2014 polls by winning 71 out of 80 seats. BJP currently holds 27 out of 29 seats in the region that includes Varanasi too. The constituency that Varanasi lies in is going for Lok Sabha polls in the last three phases of elections dated May 6, 12 and 19. Polling of Allahabad Lok Sabha seat will be held on May 12 and Varanasi will go for polls on May 19.
The functionary also told HT that Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi will eventually take a decision if Priyanka Gandhi should contest elections against PM Narendra Modi. According to records, big leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and V P Singh have represented Congress from Allahabad and neighbouring Phulphur in Parliament.
Congress’ popularity has taken over the region since the last two decades. However, Actor Amitabh Bachchan was the last Congress candidate to win from Allahabad in 1984.