In a stunning reversal from 2019, the Congress party has reclaimed its traditional stronghold of Amethi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Kishori Lal Sharma, a longtime loyalist of the Gandhi family, defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Smriti Irani by a massive margin of 167,196 votes.
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The Victory Margins
Sharma secured an impressive 539,228 votes, while Irani managed to get 372,032 votes. This represents a dramatic shift from 2019 when Irani had defeated the then Congress president Rahul Gandhi by a margin of just over 55,000 votes, in what was considered a major upset at the time.
Amethi has long been a Gandhi family bastion, having been represented by Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the years. Irani’s victory in 2019 was seen as a significant blow to the Gandhis’ influence in the region.
The 2024 Result: A Resounding Vindication
The convincing win for Sharma is being viewed as a resounding vindication for the Congress and the Gandhi family. After the 2019 setback, there were questions raised about the party’s connect with voters in Amethi. However, the huge margin of victory has put those doubts to rest.
In his victory speech, Sharma dedicated the win to the Gandhi family, highlighting his decades-long association with Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi in the region. He said, “This victory belongs to the people of Amethi who have shown their unwavering faith in the Gandhi family’s leadership.”
Irani Gracious in Defeat
On her part, Smriti Irani was gracious in defeat. She thanked the BJP workers and supporters who stood by her during the campaign. Irani acknowledged that while she gave 10 years of her life to serving Amethi, the people had made their choice.
“I express my gratitude to all the BJP party workers and supporters, those who have worked in the service of the constituency and the party with dedication and loyalty,” Irani said. “I congratulate those who win. I will continue to be in the service of the people of Amethi.”
Smriti Irani
According to data from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the voter turnout in Amethi stood at 54.08% in 2024, a slight increase from the 52.38% recorded in 2019. This marginal rise in turnout is seen as a positive sign for the robustness of the electoral process.
The Amethi seat was expected to be a closely watched contest, with both the BJP and the Congress leaving no stone unturned in their campaign efforts. Several exit polls had predicted a tight race, with some even suggesting that Irani might retain the seat.
However, the final results have defied those predictions, with the Congress emerging as the clear winner. This outcome is being seen as a significant boost for the party’s morale, especially after its less-than-impressive performance in the 2019 elections.
The Amethi result also has implications for national politics. While the BJP has retained its dominance in several states, the Congress’s ability to reclaim a high-profile seat like Amethi is likely to be seen as a positive sign for the party’s future prospects.
Political analysts suggest that the Amethi outcome could embolden the Congress to adopt a more aggressive stance in its opposition to the BJP, especially in the run-up to the next general elections in 2029.
In conclusion, the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Amethi has witnessed a remarkable shift, with the Congress party reclaiming its traditional bastion. The victory of Kishori Lal Sharma over Smriti Irani is being celebrated by the party as a vindication of the Gandhi family’s legacy in the region. While the BJP has maintained its overall dominance, the Amethi result serves as a reminder that no seat can be taken for granted in India’s dynamic and ever-evolving political landscape.