Sonia appoints daughter election agent

Lucknow: Congress President Sonia Gandhi has appointed her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra her election agent for the Rae Bareli by-election, polling for which is scheduled to take place on May 8.

According to sources, an application seeking the appointment was received by the additional returning officer of Rae Bareli, Neeraj Shukla, on Thursday and it has been accepted.

This is the second time that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been appointed the polling agent for her mother. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Priyanka had served as her mother's election agent and had toured the constituency on the day of polling.

However, after the 2004 elections, Priyanka withdrew completely from Rae Bareli, fuelling speculations that she was no longer interested in politics.

The news of her appointment as her mother's polling agent has generated considerable excitement in Congress circles.

"With Priyanka back on the scene, the polling percentage is bound to go up because she has the knack of communicating with the people. The complacency over the election results will vanish and people will turn out to vote only because Priyanka will be here," said Ashish Tiwari, a local Youth Congress leader.

While Rahul Gandhi is campaigning extensively for his mother, his sister Priyanka will supervise the poll arrangements in her mother's constituency. She is expected to arrive in Rae Bareli next week to take stock of the situation and will stay on till the day of the polling.