New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) The Congress party on Wednesday, while stating that there was no delay in announcing the candidates for the prestigious Amethi and Raebareli seats of Uttar Pradesh, said the names will be announced by Thursday evening.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, General Secretary in-charge Communication Jairam Ramesh said, “There is no delay in announcing the names of candidates. The CEC has empowered Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and most probably, the names of candidates will be announced in the next 24 to 30 hours”.

He said, “The Congress president is fully seized of the matter. He knows that a decision has to be announced well before the nomination time. There is still 48 hours left. If we do not announce the names by 11 am on 3rd May then it can be called as extraordinary delay”.

The Rajya Sabha MP rubbished the claims that the delay was due to fear of losing the seats asked the BJP as to why it has not fielded a candidate from Raebareli.

“The BJP announced the name of Smriti Irani from Amethi as she is the sitting MP. But why has the BJP not announced a candidate from Raebareli.

Ramesh further said the Congress has even announced candidates just 24 hours before the last day of nomination in number of seats.

On the question of fielding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from the two prestigious seats, Ramesh said, “Rahul ji, Priyanka ji and Kharge ji are our superstar campaigners and have been holding rallies across the country. Priyanka ji has extensively campaigned in the south and also in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and she will be campaigning for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha election. It is unfair to say there is a delay”.

Pertinently the Congress party workers led by district president Pradeep Singhal, staged a demonstration at Congress' central office in Gauriganj. The agitating workers demanded that Rahul be declared a candidate from Amethi seat.
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