Who Is Kishori Lal Sharma? Congress Leader Set to Face Smriti Irani At Amethi Lok Sabha Seat

The Lok Sabha elections' nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi seat will be filed by Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma, on Friday.

The constituency had been the stronghold of the Gandhi family until 2019 when the general elections were lost by Congress stalwart Rahul Gandhi to BJP's Smriti Irani.

Photo Credit: X/ANI

Congress In Amethi

Amethi was represented by Rahul Gandhi in the Lower House of Parliament from 2004 until 2019. The nomination papers from the family stronghold, Rae Bareli, will be filed by Rahul Gandhi. Rae Bareli constituency was represented by Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia Gandhi from 2004 to 2024.

Earlier this year, the seat was vacated by her and moved to the Rajya Sabha. There was speculation that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would contest from the constituency.

Who is Kishori Lal Sharma?

Kishori Lal Sharma, a confidant of the Gandhi family, was Sonia Gandhi's constituency representative in Rae Bareli. In Rae Bareli and Amethi, all matters linked to the Gandhi family are overseen by Kishori Lal Sharma.

The contest against BJP's Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, will be undertaken by KL Sharma. A native of Punjab, KL Sharma first arrived in 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, work for the Congress party in Amethi was continued by KL Sharma. When the Gandhi family kept away from electoral politics in the 1990s, campaigning was carried out by him for other Congress candidates.

A key role was played by Kishori Lal Sharma in Sonia Gandhi's first electoral win in 1999. Entry into Parliament was made by Gandhi with a victory in Amethi.

The Amethi seat was vacated by Sonia Gandhi and moved to Rae Bareli, KL Sharma moving 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.

For the Congress party, KL Sharma has also worked in Bihar and Punjab. On May 20, voting in Amethi and Rae Bareli will take place.