Union Minister Smriti Irani has taken a jibe at the Congress over its ‘delay’ in announcing candidate for Amethi constituency, saying the fear of defeat is haunting the opposition party.
Irani, who defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Amethi, has been fielded again in the constituency by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"At the moment, I do not know who will contest the elections, but the way Congress people are not able to muster the courage to declare the candidate from here, it seems that Amethi's power and fear of defeat are haunting them. This is a clear indication of their defeat,” she said.
Irani, the union minister for women, child development, and minority welfare, was talking to the media after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for 281 projects worth Rs 206 crore in her constituency on Thursday.
The Congress’s lack of confidence shows that Amethi is no longer their stronghold, said the minister.
On speculations that Rahul may contest from two seats—Wayanad and Amethi—Irani said the Congress leader should contest from Amethi alone if he has the courage.
"If he is contesting on two seats, it means that he is announcing his defeat from Amethi even before the elections. If he has courage, he must contest from Amethi alone without seeking the help of Mayawati or Akhilesh Yadav. The truth will come out," she was quoted as saying by ANI.
Earlier in the day, Congress district president Pradeep Singhal claimed that party leader Rahul will contest from Amethi parliamentary constituency in the coming elections, and an announcement in this regard will be made soon.
Rahul, who represented Amethi in Parliament from 2002 till 2019, lost the 2019 election to Irani.
