Who is Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress candidate against Smriti Irani in Amethi?

Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli.

Updated on: May 6, 2024, 12:49:12 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma will today file his Lok Sabha elections' nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi seat. The constituency had been the Gandhi family's stronghold until 2019, when Congress stalwart Rahul Gandhi lost the general elections to BJP's Smriti Irani. BJP, meanwhile, has said Rahul Gandhi will lose the elections from both seats.

Congress candidate from Amethi constituency Kishori Lal Sharma (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi, who represented Amethi in the Lower House of Parliament from 2004 till 2019, will file his nomination papers from the family stronghold, Rae Bareli.

Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia Gandhi represented the Rae Bareli constituency from 2004 to 2024. Earlier this year, she vacated the seat and moved to the Rajya Sabha. There was speculation that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would contest from the constituency.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi to contest Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli, Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi

Who is Kishori Lal Sharma?

Kishori Lal Sharma is a confidant of the Gandhi family. He had been Sonia Gandhi's constituency representative in Rae Bareli.

Kishori Lal Sharma is the point-person in Rae Bareli and Amethi for all matters linked to the Gandhi family.

Kishori Lal Sharma will contest against BJP's Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

KL Sharma is a native of Punjab. He first came to Amethi as a Congress worker in 1983. He was closely associated with Congress leader and former prime minister (late) Rajiv Gandhi.

After Rajiv Gandhi's death in 1991, KL Sharma kept working for the Congress party in Amethi. When the Gandhi family kept away from electoral politics in the 1990s, he campaigned for other Congress candidates.

Kishori Lal Sharma played a key role in Sonia Gandhi's first electoral win in 1999. Gandhi first entered the Parliament with a victory in Amethi.

After Sonia Gandhi vacated the Amethi seat and moved to Rae Bareli, KL Sharma moved to the city with her.

In 2004, Rahul Gandhi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Amethi. Later, KL Sharma started to manage the party's affairs in both Amethi and Rae Bareli.

KL Sharma has also worked for the Congress party in Bihar and Punjab.

Voting in Amethi and Rae Bareli will take place on May 20.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.