Sonia Gandhi's letter to people of Raebareli: ‘Won't be contesting Lok Sabha elections due to...'

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi informed her voters of Raebareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh that she will not be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls 2024 due to health and age issues. 

Her statement came a day after she filed her nomination as Congress candidate for Rajya Sabha Biennial polls from Rajasthan. She is set to be the second member of the Gandhi family to enter Rajya Sabha after former prime minister Indira Gandhi, who was a member of the Upper House from August 1964 to February 1967.

In the letter, Gandhi who has represented from the constituency since 2004 wrote, "I am proud to say that whatever I am today, I am because of you and I have always done my best to honour your trust. Now on account of health and age issues, I will not contest the next Lok Sabha election." 

The 77-year-old leader also threw subtle hints of a possible entry of a member of her family from the Rae Bareli segment.

"After this decision, I will not have the opportunity to serve you directly but my heart and soul will always remain with you. I know that you will stand by me and my family in future, just as you have in the past," she said in the message written in Hindi, as shared by PTI.

It's noteworthy that Amethi and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh used to be strong grounds for Congress. However, party leader Rahul Gandhi lost his Lok Sabha Constituency to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

With Sonia Gandhi's exit from Raebareli, she is likely to handover he her Lok Sabha seat to daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, several media houses have reported citing people familiar with the developments.