It's not goodbye yet for Sonia, will contest 2019 elections
What's the story
Clearing the air surrounding her mother Sonia Gandhi's retirement from active politics, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the former Congress party president will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli and not her. Sonia Gandhi's recent statement indicating her 'retirement', gave rise to speculations of her retirement not just from party presidency but also from political career.
Quote
Priyanka on Sonia, "One of the bravest women I know"
Talking about her mother's courage in the face of difficulties, Priyanka said, "It's a proud moment to see her..I have been part of her 20-year journey. I saw how she began..the difficulties she faced. She is one of the bravest women I have known."
Candidature
Rae Bareli constituency, Congress stronghold
Sonia Gandhi joined politics in 1997, and became Congress party leader in 1998. While Rae Bareli and Amethi are considered the bastions of Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, Sonia first contested elections in 1999 from Amethi and won. Ever since the 2004 General elections, she represented Rae Bareli constituency and has been winning until the last general election in 2014.
Succession
Illness and passing on the baton
Since her illness in 2011, Sonia Gandhi has been prepping her son Rahul Gandhi to lead the Congress party. She started doing this by giving him a bigger role first as the party general secretary in charge and then as part vice president in 2011. Sonia completed the succession by passing on the baton to Rahul when he was anointed the AICC president today.