Who is Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress' pick for Amethi against Smriti Irani

• Kishori Lal Sharma nominated to contest against BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi
• Sharma's political journey traces back to his close association with former PM Rajiv Gandhi
• Played a key role in Sonia Gandhi's maiden electoral victory in 1999

The Congress party putting an end to speculation surrounding the electoral fate of the Gandhi family's traditional strongholds in Uttar Pradesh, announces Rahul Gandhi as candidate from Rae Bareli. Gandhi family's longlime loyalist, Kishori Lal Sharma will be contesting from Amethi against BJP's Union Minister, Smriti Irani. 

KL Sharma hails originally from Ludhiana, Punjab, and boasts a close association with the Gandhi family. Having served as the manager for the Congress party and Sonia Gandhi in her absence at Rae Bareli.

Sharma's political journey traces back to his close association with former PM Rajiv Gandhi. Following Rajiv Gandhi's demise in 1991, Sharma's allegiance to the Gandhi family deepened. He played a pivotal role in Sonia Gandhi's maiden electoral victory in 1999 and has been actively involved in the Congress's affairs in Amethi since 1983.

After Sonia Gandhi vacated her seat for son Rahul Gandhi in 2004 and moved to Raebareli, Sharma started to manage the party’s affairs in both the constituencies in Uttar Pradesh — Amethi and Rae Bareli.

Amethi, once a stronghold of the Gandhi family, witnessed a significant shift in the 2019 general elections when Rahul Gandhi lost the seat to BJP's Smriti Irani.