Hyderabad: In a surprising development, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi is reportedly considering contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from two constituencies, one in Karnataka and another in Telangana, according to party insiders.
Sources indicate that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has conducted surveys in the Koppal constituency of Karnataka, despite not formally informing the local Congress unit. The survey results suggest that Koppal, one of the most backward districts in Karnataka, could be a safe seat for Priyanka Gandhi. Out of the eight assembly segments in Koppal, six are currently held by the Congress.
The move is reminiscent of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's political comeback in 1978 when she won the Chikkamagaluru parliamentary seat from Karnataka. Interestingly, Chikkamagaluru is presently known as the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru seat and is represented by Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje.
Koppal is presently represented by BJP's Karadi Sanganna, and the Congress seems to view this as an opportunity to make significant inroads into the region. The decision to field Priyanka Gandhi in Karnataka is seen as a strategic move to boost the morale of Congress workers and mount a formidable challenge against the BJP.
Notably, Sonia Gandhi contested and emerged victorious from the Ballary seat in Karnataka in 1999, facing off against the late senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj in a closely contested battle.
State Congress leaders have expressed optimism about the potential positive impact on the party if a member of the Gandhi family contests from Karnataka. They believe that Priyanka Gandhi's presence on the electoral battleground in the state could energize party workers and supporters, providing a much-needed boost to the Congress as it strives to counter the BJP's dominance.
As Priyanka Gandhi's potential candidacy unfolds, political observers are closely watching how this move might shape the electoral landscape in both Karnataka and Telangana, with the Congress hoping for a resurgence in these states.
Congress states General Secretary - Zaheer Lalani said "Priyanka akka's victory is confirmed if contests from Telangana"
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