After managing the party’s business in the background for decades, Gandhi family loyalist KL Sharma, the Congress’s Amethi candidate, has emerged from the shadows. On May 20, he will face Smriti Irani of the BJP for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, which is up for election in the constituency’s fifth phase. Although he declined to remark on his candidacy at first, he has since praised the party’s leadership.

Regarding the BJP’s allegations that Rahul Gandhi “ran away” to Raebareli out of fear of losing in Amethi, KL Sharma stated that the Wayanad MP is engaged in a national struggle. “I would want to express my gratitude to Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge for allowing me to run from their allocated seat. I’ll put in a lot of effort at work.Rahul Gandhi is not a person who flees from the situation. Regarding votes, no one can forecast anything. I’m going to meet Priyanka Gandhi today,” he said to the ANI news agency.

With the exception of the 1981 elections, KL Sharma, who entered politics as a Youth Congress leader in 1983, has masterminded every electoral victory for Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia. “I have spent forty years representing this constituency. In Amethi, I started my political career in 1983. Then things got to the point where I had to stay here.”

Congresswoman Priyanka Gandhi stated in an X post: “Our family has a long history with Kishori Lal Sharma ji. His commitment to helping the people of Raebareli and Amethi has never wavered. His dedication to serving the public good serves as an example. The Congress Party’s decision to nominate Kishori Lal ji as an Amethi candidate is cause for celebration today. Kishori Lal Ji would undoubtedly win this election because of his commitment to service and loyalty.”