'Ghamand nahi karna': Gandhis' advice to KL Sharma post Amethi victory

Kishori Lal Sharma, the newly elected Member of Parliament from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, met with top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today. Sharma, who recently defeated BJP's Smriti Irani in a high-profile contest, visited the Gandhis to submit Rahul Gandhi's winning certificate and seek their blessings.

"I came here to submit Rahul Gandhi's winning certificate and I had to take blessings of Sonia Gandhi ji," Sharma told news agency ANI.

Advice from the Gandhis

During his meeting with the Gandhis, Sharma revealed that the leaders advised him to "stay humble, just as I am."

"Jaise humble ho, waise hi humble rehna hai. Koi ghamand nahi karna hai ki aap MP ho gye ho (be humble as you are. Don't be arrogant about being an MP)," Sharma quoted the Gandhis as saying.

"They guided me to be respectful towards everyone," he added.

On Defeating Smriti Irani
Reflecting on his victory over Smriti Irani, Sharma emphasized that there is no room for 'revenge' in politics, likening it to sportsmanship where wins and losses are part and parcel.

Gandhi loyalist Sharma defeated Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 by a significant margin of 1,67,196 votes. Sharma secured 5,39,228 votes while Irani received 3,72,032 votes.

In 2014, Smriti Irani made national headlines by defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, a Congress bastion.

Congratulations from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who played a key role in the party's campaign in both Amethi and Raebareli, congratulated Sharma after the results were declared. She expressed her confidence in Sharma's victory from the beginning.

"Kishori bhaiya, I never had any doubts, I was sure from the beginning that you would win. Hearty congratulations to you and my dear brothers and sisters of Amethi!" Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

Who is Kishori Lal Sharma?
Kishori Lal Sharma, chosen by the Gandhi family to represent Amethi, has had a strong start to his political career. A native of Ludhiana, Punjab, Sharma has been actively involved in party affairs and served as Sonia Gandhi's representative in Rae Bareli during her extended absences.

Sharma's association with the Gandhi family dates back to his close ties with the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Following Rajiv Gandhi's death in 1991, Sharma continued to strengthen his bond with the family. He first entered Amethi in 1983 and has since played a pivotal role in managing the party's affairs in the constituency.

Additionally, Sharma played a significant role in Sonia Gandhi's successful election campaign in Amethi in 1999, contributing to her victory.

(With inputs from TOI)