'Not any random pick'; Sonia Gandhi's most trusted man in Amethi, Know more about Kishori Lal Sharma

NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday decided to field Gandhi family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma as a candidate in Amethi. However, many within the party expressed displeasure while some others in the media were flummoxed to hear the rather unfamiliar name. Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra had his eyes on the constituency while uncertainty also loomed for a long about Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from the former family bastion. It was at this height of uncertainty that Congress decided K L Sharma as the best pick for Amethi. Apart from being a family loyalist, K L Sharma holds big sway in Amethi and is very much connected with the place.

In 1983, Kishore Lal, a native of Punjab, arrived in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Since then, Sharma nursed an affection for the place and was involved in major party activities for the congress party. He came into political prominence as a confidant of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Even after Rajiv died in 1991, Sharma played a major role in the growth of Congress in Amethi. When the Gandhi family stayed away from electoral politics, it was Kishori Lal who campaigned for other candidates in Amethi.

Kishori Lal also played an important role in Sonia Gandhi's first election victory in 1999. Later, when Rahul and Sonia were sworn in as MPs in Amethi and Rae Bareli, he looked after the affairs of these constituencies. Kishorilal has worked for the Congress in Bihar and Punjab. Polling will be held in Amethi and Rae Bareli on the 20th of May.