In the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s 2019 defeat by Irani in Amethi, Sharma was fielded from the Congress bastion this election. His win comes as a major boost for the party in UP.
'Religion' pitch, though, could still work in Irani's favour, who is contesting against Congress's Kishori Lal Sharma. Meanwhile many feel Rahul or Priyanka could have swept elections.
In Salon, sitting MP Smriti Irani invokes the spirit of Hanuman to rally voters, while Sharma banks on his four-decade-long association with Amethi and Rae Bareli.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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