Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has announced his candidacy for the upcoming Lok Sabha election from the Rae Bareli seat, previously held by his mother Sonia Gandhi. The party also said that Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, will be contesting from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat.
Sharma, known for his pivotal role in managing the prestigious constituencies in the absence of the Gandhis, has been entrusted with the responsibility of representing Amethi.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, current chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to be present in Rae Bareli during the nomination filing process.
Rahul Gandhi and Sharma are scheduled to file their nomination papers on Friday, which marks the final day for nominations in these constituencies. The elections for both seats are slated for May 20, in the fifth phase of the general election.
The announcement follows deliberations within the party over the past few days to finalize the candidates for the seats, traditionally held by members of the Gandhi-Nehru family.
The BJP has named Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate from Rae Bareli, who previously contested against Sonia Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, posters and banners featuring Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were spotted at the Congress office in Gauriganj.
BJP leader Smriti Irani has already filed her nomination papers from Amethi, adding further anticipation to the electoral contest in the region.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh leadership of the Congress had urged the Gandhi family to contest from both constituencies, emphasizing the party’s commitment to the region.
