In a significant electoral upset, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, has lost her bid for the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh against Congress’ Kishori Lal. Early results from the Election Commission of India (ECI) show that Irani was defeated by a margin of 1,67,196 votes in the Lok Sabha election.
Amethi, once considered a stronghold of the Gandhi family, witnessed a political shift in 2019 when Smriti Irani of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a historic victory against Rahul Gandhi, then Congress president. Irani’s vote share stood at 49.71%, while Gandhi managed 43.86%. This marked a significant departure from the previous elections where the Gandhi family had a strong hold over the constituency.
Despite losing the 2014 Lok Sabha election to Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani continued her efforts to connect with Amethi’s residents, regularly visiting the region and even establishing a home in Mawai village. Her dedication to the constituency earned her a significant following.
In an interview with NDTV, Irani pointed out that Rahul Gandhi’s decision not to contest from Amethi in this election indicated the challenging nature of the seat. The Amethi Lok Sabha seat has been represented by prominent members of the Gandhi family, including Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi over the years.
Smriti Irani, known for her transition from an actor to a politician, joined the BJP in 2003 and has held key ministerial portfolios, including Human Resource Development and Textiles, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Sources By Agencies
