Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as we speak introduced that she won’t contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, citing well being considerations. Mrs Gandhi yesterday filed her nomination papers from Rajasthan for the Rajya Sabha polls.

“Resulting from well being and rising age, I can’t contest the subsequent Lok Sabha elections. After this resolution, I can’t get the chance to serve you straight, however, actually, my coronary heart and soul will at all times be with you,” Mrs Gandhi mentioned. 

Mrs Gandhi entered lively politics in 1999 when she was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from Amethi. Her subsequent rise noticed her change into the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha and later, within the 2004 normal elections, she received from Rae Bareli.

In a letter, Sonia Gandhi expressed her profound connection to Rae Bareli, acknowledging the enduring assist and love she has acquired from its residents.

CPP चेयरपर्सन श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी जी का रायबरेली की जनता के नाम संदेश- pic.twitter.com/6zlJkWjwvi

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 15, 2024

“The shut relationship with Rae Bareli may be very previous. Our household’s ties with Rae Bareli run very deep. Within the first Lok Sabha elections held after independence, you made my father-in-law Shri Feroze Gandhi win from right here and despatched him to Delhi. After him, you made my mother-in-law Mrs Indira Gandhi your individual. From then until now, this collection has continued with love and enthusiasm by the ups and downs and troublesome paths of life, and our religion in it has change into stronger,” Mrs Gandhi wrote. 

Feroze Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s husband and Congress chief, triumphed twice from Rae Bareli in 1952 and 1957. Arun Nehru, grandnephew of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, clinched victories in a 1980 bypoll and in 1984. Sheila Kaul, Jawaharlal Nehru’s sister-in-law, secured wins in 1989 and 1991. Members of the Nehru-Gandhi household abstained from contesting the seat on solely two events, in 1962 and 1999.

Addressing the folks of Rae Bareli, Mrs Gandhi wrote: “You additionally gave me house to stroll on this vivid path. After shedding my mother-in-law and my life companion ceaselessly, I got here to you and also you unfold your arms for me. Within the final two elections, you stood by me like a rock even in troublesome circumstances, I can always remember this. I’m proud to say that no matter I’m as we speak is due to you and I’ve at all times tried to dwell as much as this belief.”

Congress suffered defeats in Rae Bareli on three events since Independence. The primary loss befell within the post-Emergency elections when Indira Gandhi was defeated by the Janata Occasion’s Raj Narain. 

Subsequent defeats befell in 1996 and 1998 when Indira Gandhi’s cousins Vikram Kaul and Deepa Kaul misplaced in opposition to the BJP. 

Mrs Gandhi was accompanied by her youngsters Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when she filed her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha in Jaipur yesterday. The Congress veteran is about to make her debut within the Higher Home from Rajasthan, securing the seat that may change into accessible in April following former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s completion of his Rajya Sabha time period.

With Mrs Gandhi out of the image, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is anticipated to contest the 2024 normal elections from Rae Bareli.