2023 Lok Sabha Elections: Rahul Gandhi to contest from Karnataka?

Thiruvananthapuram/Bengaluru: Following Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s call for the Congress to rectify mistakes after facing defeat in three states, Left parties are now advising Rahul Gandhi not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Kerala.

Prominent figures from the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM], including CPI General Secretary D. Raja, CPM Kerala State Secretary MV Govindan, and CPI leader and Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan, issued a joint statement on Monday suggesting that Rahul Gandhi should consider contesting in a state like Karnataka, where a direct battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] is anticipated.

Notably, Rahul Gandhi had expressed reservations about contesting from Wayanad in Kerala back in 2019. However, the Congress opted for Wayanad, given its Muslim-majority constituency. As preparations for the 2023 Lok Sabha elections are underway, Rahul Gandhi appears inclined to contest from Wayanad once again. In response, the Left parties are urging him to explore other options.

The recommendation to look beyond Wayanad and consider a constituency in Karnataka underscores the evident divisions within Indian politics. Sources suggest that the recent setbacks faced by the Congress in three states have prompted strategic reassessments among various political factions.

Observers note that advising Rahul Gandhi to choose a constituency in Karnataka reflects a shift in political dynamics, as parties realign their strategies following the Congress’s defeats.