Amid the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, a press release has recently surfaced on social media site X(Twitter) stating that the Central Election Committee has approved the candidature of Varun Gandhi as Congress candidate to contest the ensuing general elections to the Lok Sabha from Amethi.

Fact-Check

To verify the authenticity of the press release, the DFRAC searched some words on Google and X(Twitter). The team came across a press release on the X handle of K C Venugopal, general secretary of Congress. As per the press release, Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi Family has been selected by the Central Election Committee for the ensuing elections from Amethi.

Media Reports from NDTV, India Today, Livemint and TOI

According to a recently published media report by India Today, the Congress on Friday fielded Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi, who will fight against BJP’s Smriti Irani from the constituency. Sharma is a close aide of the Gandhi family and has been associated with the party for over four decades.

Another report from NDTV stated that Kishori Lal Sharma, a longtime loyalist of the Gandhi family, has been fielded by the Congress from Amethi. The decision was announced this morning, ending weeks of suspense. Rahul Gandhi, who was expected to make an all-out bid to win back Amethi, has been announced as the party candidate from Raebareli.

Furthermore, Reports from Livemint and Times of India also cited similar facts about Congress announcing Rahul Gandhi as its candidate from Rae Bareli while Kishori Lal Sharma will be contesting from Amethi.

Conclusion

It is evident from DFRAC’s fact-check that Kishori Lal Sharma has been selected to contest the ensuing general elections to the Lok Sabha from Amethi, not Varun Gandhi.

Analysis: Fake