Rahul Gandhi to File Nomination from Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi

Rahul Gandhi is set to file his nomination from Rae Bareli and Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi today. The Congress party has finalized the candidature of Rahul Gandhi for the traditional seat of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, while Kishori Lal Sharma will be contesting from Amethi.

The decision was officially announced by the Congress party, with a close aide of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Kishori Lal Sharma, being chosen to represent the party in Amethi. Both candidates are scheduled to file their nomination papers today, which marks the final date for nominations in the respective constituencies.

Rahul Gandhi’s potential candidacy from Rae Bareli emerged after discussions with the Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, during a recent campaign rally in Uttar Pradesh. Speculations were rife as to whether Rahul Gandhi would step in to contest, with the seat traditionally being held by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, since 2004.

With Amethi being considered a stronghold for the Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly pushed for either Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi to contest from these seats. While Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad in Kerala during the 2019 elections, he is now likely to contest from Amethi as well.

Since Independence, both Amethi and Rae Bareli have been pivotal constituencies for the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh. The party faced defeat in these constituencies only a few times, with stalwarts like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi representing them in the past.