"Relation unbroken for half a century," Priyanka pens emotional post after Rahul files nomination from Raebareli

Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 3 : Hours after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Raebareli on Friday, his sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra penned an emotional post, stating "relationship of service and faith" with the Lok Sabha constituency has "remained unbroken for half a century."
Raebareli, a stronghold of the Gandhi family, was represented by her mother Sonia Gandhi since 2004 in the outgoing Lok Sabha. There was speculation earlier that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would contest from either Amethi or Raebareli, two seats in Uttar Pradesh, which are prestige battles for the party. Before Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Indira Gandhi had won from Raebareli three times, and Indira's husband and Congress leader, Feroze Gandhi, twice in 1952 and 1957.
"A few days ago, my mother said, 'My family is incomplete in Delhi. It becomes complete after coming to Raebareli.' Such a family, which has included many generations, has stood with us like a rock in every ups and downs, happiness and sorrow, crisis, and struggle for decades. This is a relationship of affection and trust. It is also a relationship of service and faith that has remained unbroken for half a century," Priyanka said in a social media post on X.
"The love, affection, and respect we have received from the people here is priceless. The greatest beauty of a family relationship is that you can never repay the debt of its affection, even if you want to. In this difficult time, when we are fighting to save the country's democracy, constitution, and the rights of the people, our entire family stands firmly with us in this fight. Today, in the presence of thousands of family members, elder brother Rahul ji filed his election nomination," she added in the post.
Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded three-time MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh against Rahul in Raebareli. Singh lost to Sonia Gandhi in 2019.
Earlier, after filling his nomination, Rahul Gandhi along with Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra offered prayers during a puja held at the house of late party leader Gaya Prasad Shukla.
The house has been associated with the party for decades. Locals said the puja was held after filing the nomination due to paucity of time earlier. "It started with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1967. It has become a norm that whenever a member of the Gandhi family files the nomination, they first offer prayers here," KC Shukla, grandson of Gyan Prasad Shukla, told ANI.
Rahul Gandhi, who is the incumbent MP from Wayanad in Kerala and is re-contesting from the seat, lost from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to Union Minister Smriti Irani. Rahul Gandhi had won Amethi three times in a row till 2019.
Congress has fielded KL Sharma, a loyalist of the Gandhi family, from Amethi against Smriti Irani.
Elections in Amethi and Raebareli will be held on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase poll process.