Setback for Congress as party's UP co-coordinator Vikas Agrahari joins BJP in presence of Smriti Irani
Uttar Pradesh Congress state co-coordinator Vikas Agrahari on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Lok Sabha Constituency, Smriti Irani.
BJP's Amethi district president Ram Prasad Mishra was also present on the occasion. The joining comes even as the Congress is yet to name a candidate for the seat. While the BJP has announced that Irwill seek re-election from Amethi.
Smriti Irani defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, a Nehru-Gandhi family stronghold, in one of the biggest upsets of the polls. Congress has however announced that Gandhi will again contest from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, a seat he won in the 2019 General elections.
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi was questioned on whether he would contest against Irani to which the former Congress president said this was a decision for the party to take.
«This is BJP's question, very good. Whatever order I will get, I will follow it. In our party, all these (selections of candidates) decisions are taken by the CEC,» he had said.
Smriti Irani on Wednesday launched another all out attack on Rahul Gandhi saying «There has been a person from Amethi who you supported for 15 years and he changed his family. I urge you that they will again try to divide us on lines of caste and religion, but we must stand together. I will soon do a public program, I will soon talk about certain things that I have not spoken off, if that person (RG) is declared a candidate then
