Rahul Gandhi to contest from Raebareli, KL Sharma from Amethi

New Delhi: Hours before the deadline to file nominations for the Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies, the Congress ended the long suspense surrounding these two high-profile seats, but, with a twist. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi switched to family bastion Rae Bareli, Gandhi loyalist Kishorilal Sharma has been fielded from Amethi.

Contrary to expectations, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will not be contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress insiders have revealed diverging perspectives on the decision to keep Priyanka Gandhi out of the poll arena. A faction within the party staunchly advocated for maintaining distance from what they termed the “dynasty” narrative, especially with all three Gandhis potentially occupying parliamentary seats.

The other faction hinted at a strategic move, saying Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s electoral victory in Rae Bareli could have positioned her as the torch-bearer of the Congress in the foreseeable future. This theory gained traction in the light of the possibility of Rahul Gandhi losing to BJP’s Smriti Irani from Amethi for a second time.

The Gandhis, along with senior party leaders, landed at the Fursatganj airport en route to Rae Bareli. Gandhi filed his nomination for the Rae Bareli parliamentary seat on Friday, surrounded by mother Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and senior party colleagues, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Ashok Gehlot.

In a show of adulation, Congress workers turned up in large numbers. Photographs were posted on social media showing gandhi handing the papers to polling officials and smiling at the camera. There was no uncertainty any more.

Kishori Lal Sharma, who is from Punjab’s Ludhiana, has worked for the Gandhis in Amethi and Rae Bareli since the 1980s. He began his work for the Congress in its central Uttar Pradesh stronghold when Rajiv Gandhi won the Amethi bypoll after the death of his brother Sanjay Gandhi.

Sharma said he would have preferred a Gandhi to contest but he could not refuse the party’s order when he was asked to fight the election. He said he has always been a worker of the Gandhi family and he would fulfil whatever responsibility has been entrusted to him.

Priyanka Gandhi, in a message, said: “Kishori Lal Sharma ji has been associated with our family for years. He has always been dedicated towards serving the people of Amethi and Rae Bareli. His passion for public service is an example in itself.” She added in a post in Hindi on X: “Today it is a matter of joy that the Congress Party has made him the party candidate from Amethi. Kishori Lal ji's loyalty and dedication towards duty will definitely bring him success in this election. Many best wishes.”