Amethi Lok Sabha Election 2019: Rahul Gandhi trailing suggests initial counting

• The Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh is known for being a Congress stronghold.
• Rahul Gandhi, the Congress President, is contesting the elections against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Smriti Irani in Amethi.
• Gandhi has been called out by Irani for being a ‘missing MP’.
• During the last election, Irani did not win but she dented Gandhi’s vote share by 12% making this year’s run a close call.

The constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh is known for being a Congress stronghold. Since it was formed, non-Congress parties have only ever come into power twice.

It’s also one of two constituencies from where Congress President, Rahul Gandhi, has decided to contest the Lok Sabha election this year.

But this time around a Congress victory might not be so easy to come by as Gandhi faces off against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Smriti Irani.

Initial counting by NDTV shows Gandhi leading in Wayanad but heavily trailing behind Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, Smriti Irani in Amethi.

The party’s prospects aren’t cheery in Uttar Pradesh as is, according to exit polls. Amethi is one of the few seats in the state where Congress might at least have a chance.

It’s not an all out victory

According to India Today-My Axis exit polls, Congress’ individual position isn’t as bright as compared to a Congress-led alliance coming into power. And, even that ‘popularity’ is only at a three percent margin as compared to BJP.

It helps both parties that the Mahagathbandhan between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) didn’t field their own candidate in Amethi.

But Gandhi has been called out for being missing in action, even failing to show up on the day of polling. Irani has been building on the ‘missing MP’ momentum by ensuring that her visibility poses a considerable challenge to Gandhi’s campaigning efforts.

BJP President, Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath have been backing her efforts with appearances at public rallies in Amethi.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Irani may not have won but she had a severe impact on Gandhi’s margin of victory — by as much as 12%. Gandhi came out on top but only with the lowest vote share ever recorded by a Congress candidate in Amethi.

Congress and Uttar Pradesh

BJP already took Amethi out from under Congress during the Assembly Elections in 2017, winning four out of the five seats up for grabs. And, even Gauriganj — where BJP lost — did not go to Congress, but to SP.

The current situation in Amethi is a far cry from the days of Rajiv Gandhi — Rahul Gandhi’s father — when it was difficult for BJP to even have a party office in the constituency, let alone fly the party flag.

The chances of winning in any constituency in Uttar Pradesh look rosier for Sonia Gandhi — member of Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s mother — who’s contesting the Lok Sabha Election from Raebarelli.

And, as for Rahul Gandhi, his chances of winning in Wayanad, Kerala are more likely than in Amethi.