The Congress party has announced its key candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. Kishori Lal Sharma, a long-time associate of the Gandhi family, will be contesting from Amethi against BJP’s Smriti Irani, while Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Raebareli.
Who is Kishori Lal Sharma?
Kishori Lal Sharma, originally from Ludhiana in Punjab, has been associated with the Congress party for over four decades. He first entered the political scene in Amethi in 1983 alongside Rajiv Gandhi. After Rajiv Gandhi’s tragic death in 1991, Sharma’s relationship with the Gandhi family deepened, and he became a pivotal figure in managing the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies, especially in the absence of the Gandhis.
Sharma’s Role in Amethi and Raebareli
Sharma’s responsibilities expanded as he took charge of managing Sonia Gandhi‘s campaigns and affairs in Amethi and Raebareli.
After Rajiv Gandhi’s death in 1991, Kishori Lal Sharma continued his work for the Congress party in Amethi. During the 1990s, when the Gandhi family decided to stay away from electoral politics, Sharma actively campaigned for other Congress candidates.
Kishori Lal Sharma played a pivotal role in Sonia Gandhi’s initial electoral success in 1999, which marked her entry into Parliament from Amethi.
Following Sonia Gandhi’s decision to vacate the Amethi seat and shift her focus to Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma also moved to Rae Bareli to continue his work alongside her.
In 2004, Rahul Gandhi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Amethi, and thereafter, Kishori Lal Sharma expanded his responsibilities to manage the party’s affairs in both Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Additionally, Kishori Lal Sharma has been actively involved in the Congress party’s activities in Bihar and Punjab, showcasing his extensive experience and dedication to the party’s cause beyond just the Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies.
Congress’s Traditional Seats
Amethi and Raebareli have been traditional strongholds of the Gandhi family. Rahul Gandhi represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha from 2004 to 2019, until he was defeated by Smriti Irani in the last general elections. Sonia Gandhi, on the other hand, represented Raebareli from 2004 to 2024, when she vacated the seat to move to the Rajya Sabha.
Election Dynamics
The upcoming elections in Amethi and Raebareli are crucial, with voting scheduled for May 20. Kishori Lal Sharma’s nomination from Amethi and Rahul Gandhi’s from Raebareli underscore the Congress’s determination to reclaim these seats from the BJP.
Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma is set to file his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from the Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh. Amethi has historically been a stronghold of the Gandhi family, but in 2019, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lost the general elections to BJP’s Smriti Irani.
Rahul Gandhi, who represented Amethi in the Lower House of Parliament from 2004 to 2019, will now file his nomination papers from the family stronghold of Rae Bareli.
