New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have lost the Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi by up to three lakh votes had Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested against him, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Tuesday, taking a jibe at the PM over his reduced victory margin.

Speaking at a public meeting in Rae Bareli, organised to thank voters for electing Rahul as their representative, he also made certain remarks that triggered speculations about Priyanka’s future role in the Congress. 

Rahul, who also won from Wayanad, will have to give up one seat before the next session of the Lok Sabha commences. Rae Bareli and Wayanad constituencies, said Rahul, will be equally treated.

Amethi MP-elect Kishori Lal Sharma, who defeated BJP’s Smriti Irani, was also present at the public meeting. Sharma later told reporters that he has requested Rahul to retain Rae Bareli.

In his first remarks on the BJP’s loss in Faizabad constituency, which is home to Ayodhya, Rahul said, “Did you see they lost even Ayodhya? They built the Ram Temple, but you may not have seen even one poor person at its inauguration. There was not a single farmer, labourer, marginalised, Dalit. They even told the Adivasi President not to be there.”

Instead, he said, the ceremony saw the presence of industrialists such as Adani and Ambani, apart from celebrities from the world of cricket and Bollywood. “The people of Ayodhya have responded,” he said.  

“Varanasi se jaan bachake nikle PM Modi (Modi scraped through in Varanasi). I must tell you and my sister that had she contested from Varanasi, then PM Modi would have lost the polls by two to three lakh votes. My assertion is not stemming from arrogance. I am saying this because the people of India have given the message to the PM that they do not like his politics, that they are against hate, violence,” Rahul said.

Modi’s winning margin in Varanasi came down to 1.52 lakh votes from 4.79 lakh in 2019. The BJP suffered a setback in Uttar Pradesh, with the party’s tally coming down to 33 from 62 last election. As part of the INDIA bloc, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party won 37 and six seats, respectively, in the state.

Rahul said it was an outcome of the realisation among people that the BJP, led by Modi and Amit Shah, were out to destroy the country’s Constitution. He said previous pre-poll coalitions did not work as workers and supporters of parties often lacked coordination and understanding among themselves.

“Did you see how he (Modi) was holding the Constitution of India? You made it possible. You sent him the message that you will teach him a lesson if he tries to fiddle with it. The people of India have sent out the message that they do not appreciate his vision for the country. They want a new vision,” Rahul said, urging Congress workers to guard against turning arrogant.  

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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