Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
India

Smriti Zubin Irani Shatters Congress Castle At Amethi, Rahul Gandhi Concedes Defeat

Darpan News Desk IANS, 23 May, 2019 05:27 PM

    Amethi, on Thursday, snapped its 39 years long relationship with the Gandhi family -- a relationship that was filled with emotions and nurtured with emotions.

     

    The victory of BJP's Smriti Irani and defeat of Rahul Gandhi is not just the result of an electoral battle -- it is much more than that.

     

    Bechu Khan, a businessman in Jagdishpur, aptly summed up the result when he said: "Amethi is witnessing a generational shift. The new generation has little room for emotions and is more concerned about its future which they saw in Smriti Irani and the BJP.

     
     

    "This new generation has not seen Rajiv Gandhi connect with the local people. They have not seen how Sanjay Gandhi made Amethi important so they do not have an emotional relationship with the Gandhi family."

     

    For the people of Amethi, development has rarely been an issue. "For us, the identity was more important. Wherever we went across the country and said that we were from Amethi, we would get respect and local Congressmen would reach out to help us. This mattered more for the local people," said Shiv Nath Shukla, a lawyer from Gauriganj.

     
     

    Then what made Amethi ditch the Gandhis this time?

     

    The local people say that it is the young voters who are responsible for electing Smriti Irani.

     

    "She reached out to them, helped them get scholarships, jobs etc. In her, they saw a hope for their future. The local BJP leaders acted as a bridge between Smriti Irani and the people. This time, Amethi has voted for its own interest," said Ram Sevak, a Congress worker from Musafirkhana.

     
     

    Moreover, Irani kept campaigning in Amethi even after she lost the seat in 2014 by a margin of over one lakh votes. She would regularly visit the constituency and point out Rahul Gandhi's absence. People from Amethi had easy access to her in Delhi, too.

     

    Amethi was first won by the Congress in 1980 and has remained with the Congress, barring one year when the BJP won the seat.

     

    In 1980, Sanjay Gandhi had won the seat but after his death, Rajiv Gandhi won the seat in a by-election in 1981. Rajiv Gandhi retained the seat in 1984, 1989 and in 1991.

     
     
     
     

    In 1991 and 1996, Captain Satish Sharma, a friend of the Gandhi family won the seat but in 1998, the BJP wrest the seat when Sanjay Singh was elected.

     

    A year later, Sonia Gandhi entered politics and won the Amethi seat which she retained till 2004. Rahul Gandhi won the seat in 2004, 2009 and 2014.

     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    'Modi Cave' All Set To Become Spiritual Destination

    The cave at the Kedarnath shrine where Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditated overnight is all set to become a spiritual tourist destination.

    'Modi Cave' All Set To Become Spiritual Destination

    Sweetshop Owners In Punjab Ready For Post-Result Bash

    Sweetshop Owners In Punjab Ready For Post-Result Bash
    Prominent sweetmeat outlets in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar and Bathinda have been placed orders for 'motichoor laddoos' for the anticipated celebrations.    

    Sweetshop Owners In Punjab Ready For Post-Result Bash

    Partially Decomposed Bodies Of Married Couple Found In Flat Near Delhi

    Shashi Tyagi, 56, and his 52-year-old wife Renu Tyagi were residents of Supreme Tower in Noida Sector 99.

    Partially Decomposed Bodies Of Married Couple Found In Flat Near Delhi

    Adani Group To Withdraw Defamation Cases Against 'The Wire'

    The Adani Group is set to withdraw all defamation suits filed against news portal thewire.in and its editors in an Ahmedabad court for articles against its companies

    Adani Group To Withdraw Defamation Cases Against 'The Wire'

    On Poll Result Eve, 'Kingmakers' Wait In The Wings

    As the world waits with bated breath the results of the 2019 general elections, the Election Commission has laid out a detailed plan for counting of votes and is learnt to have rejected the opposition parties’ demand of counting VVPAT slips before opening EVMs.

    On Poll Result Eve, 'Kingmakers' Wait In The Wings

    Robert Vadra Requests Delhi Court For Permission To Travel Abroad

    Robert Vadra Requests Delhi Court For Permission To Travel Abroad
    The counsel for Robert Vadra requested Special judge to ensure details of his itinerary are not shared with a third party as it was a matter of his security.

    Robert Vadra Requests Delhi Court For Permission To Travel Abroad