New Delhi: In an attempt to quell speculations over her mother's retirement from active politics, Priyanka Vadra told reporters on Saturday that Sonia Gandhi will contest the next Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli in 2019.
"There is no question of me contesting, my mother will be contesting from there," Priyanka said on the sidelines of the function organised to elevate Rahul Gandhi to the party chief post.
Priyanka's clarification is also being seen as an attempt to dispel any reports of her entering electoral politics in the near future- especially when her brother is beginning a new innings as Congress president. It is also an attempt to discourage creation of multipower centres in the party.
On Friday. Sonia Gandhi indicated that she may retire from active politics.
"My job is to retire," Sonia Gandhi told reporters on the first day of the Winter Session of Parliament when asked about her role after Rahul Gandhi formally takes over as Congress president.
Sonia Gandhi is also the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), which includes members of both Houses of Parliament. Sonia's statement led to speculations that she might also hand over the leadership of the CPP to Rahul.
The Congress, however, insisted that although Sonia will stop being the party’s president, it does not follow that she is retiring from public life altogether.
Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “Sonia Gandhi has retired as president of Indian National Congress and not from politics. Her blessings, wisdom and innate commitment to Congress ideology shall always be our guiding light.”
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