Congress to announce candidates for Amethi, Raebareli seats in 24-30 hours

Asserting that "nobody is scared", the Congress said a decision on the candidates from Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh will be announced in the next 24-30 hours.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party's central election committee (CEC) has empowered Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalise the candidates for the two seats.

There have been speculations that Rahul Gandhi might contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Raebareli, a seat that was previously held by her mother Sonia Gandhi.

The state leadership in Uttar Pradesh has already requested the central election committee and the party leadership to field Rahul from Amethi and Priyanka from Raebareli.

The CEC members had also supported the request of the Uttar Pradesh Congress during its last meeting on Saturday.

Meanwhile,  sources said that Rahul Gandhi is unwilling to contest either from Amethi or Raebareli and does not want any of his family members to contest from these two seats as well.

According to another source, Rahul Gandhi had nearly agreed to fight from Raebareli but later decided against it.