Today in Politics: Priyanka Gandhi set to drive Congress push in Rae Bareli, Amethi till the end

With Andhra Pradesh heading for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in one phase on May 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in the state on Monday, along with the NDA alliance partners – TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan.

Their first public meeting will be held in the afternoon at Vemagiri in Rajamahendravaram, East Godavari district, followed by another meeting in the evening at Anakapalli.

PM Modi’s rallies have been dubbed “Prajagalam” (people’s voice).

Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari is contesting from the Rajamahendravaram Lok Sabha seat against the ruling YSRCP’s G Srinivasulu.

In the Anakapalli parliamentary seat, the BJP’s C M Ramesh is taking on the YSRCP’s B Mutyala Naidu.

As part of the seat-sharing deal among the NDA partners, the TDP has been allotted 144 Assembly seats and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, while the BJP is contesting from six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly constituencies. The JSP is contesting from two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi will address rallies at Berhampur and Nabarangpur in Odisha, which is going to simultaneous polls in four phases beginning May 13.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to spearhead the Congress’s campaign in the Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, camping there from Monday in a bid to ensure the party’s victory in these two Nehru-Gandhi family’s traditional seats.

Ending days of suspense, the Congress on Friday announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli, the constituency held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades, and Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide