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Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Sonia Gandhi, former Congress President, who steadfastly represented Raibareli for over two decades and remained unwavering in her commitment to the Congress cause, is not contesting the upcoming general elections.
However, she will be actively involved in supporting her son, Rahul Gandhi, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the Congress Party’s stronghold in the constituency.
Sonia Gandhi, 77, who recently elected to the Upper House of Parliament is not contesting this year Lok Sabha polls since entering active electoral politics in 1997, is expected to campaign for the two seats, although no official statement has been made regarding this matter.
In this year’s general elections, the current Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Kerala, is the only politician contesting from two seats.
In the Last elections 2019, Rahul Gandhi also contested in two seats but lost Amethi to Smriti Irani, a Union Minister in the present NDA government.
However, this year, Rahul Gandhi opted out of contesting from Amethi, and the party decided to field him as a candidate from Raibareli to maintain the family’s stronghold built over five decades.
Priyanka Gandhi, who has spent several years alongside her mother and brother during elections campaign in these two constituencies, has once again taken up the mantle.
She is actively showcasing her skills with sharp attacks on the BJP-led government to secure victory for the Congress Party in these seats.
The constituency, formerly represented by Rahul Gandhi for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2019, now welcomes a new face from the Congress Party, K L Sharma, aged 65. Sharma, a loyalist to the party’s family, has nurtured the constituency for over four decades behind the scene has been closely associated with both the mother and son.
The Congress Party was represented by former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who were elected from the important constituencies of Raibareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.