Priyanka Gandhi Won’t Contest Lok Sabha Elections: Report

“In order to concentrate on the campaign, she will not be contesting in this election,” sources reportedly said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. 

(Photo; PTI)

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi will not be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, NDTV reported, citing sources, on Wednesday, 13 March.

"In order to concentrate on the campaign and her new responsibility as general secretary, she (Priyanka Gandhi) will not be contesting in this election," NDTV quoted sources as saying.

Instead, she would help Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies where they are contesting, along with other Congress candidates of Uttar Pradesh, they reportedly said.

With Priyanka Gandhi's official entry into politics as the general secretary for the Congress, there had been expectations that she would contest the general elections, possibly from the Raebareli seat. However, releasing its first list of 15 candidates on 7 March, the Congress announced that Rahul Gandhi would be contesting from Amethi, while Sonia Gandhi would be contesting from Raebareli.

On Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi addressed her first election rally in Gujarat since assuming charge as the general secretary, hours after the conclusion of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Ahmedabad.

She also met Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad in Meerut along with Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday.

(With inputs from NDTV.)