Sharma emerging as giant-slayer in Amethi

Amethi, 4 June (HS): As counting day trends in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, one of the most closely watched seats in the country, pointed to a Congress victory, senior party official Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted a throwback photo with the Congress' Amethi candidate and Gandhi family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma. Seven hours into the counting, Sharma is emerging as a giant-slayer, with a roughly one lakh vote advantage over BJP candidate Smriti Irani.

Vadra, who did not run for Lok Sabha, oversaw the party's campaign in Amethi and Raebareli, both of which had previously been represented by members of the Gandhi family. Rahul Gandhi, her brother and Congress leader, is over 3 lakh votes ahead of Dinesh Pratap Singh of the BJP in Rae Bareli.

Vadra stated in the post that accompanied the throwback photo, "Kishori bhaiya, I never doubted, and I believed from the start that you would win. Congratulations to you and all of my Amethi brothers and sisters.?

Sharma surprised many by defeating union Minister Irani, who had previously upset Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. After the Congress picked Sharma as its candidate in the family stronghold, the BJP alleged that the Gandhis were afraid to run in Amethi after Irani won the previous election. The Congress explained its pick by stating that Sharma has worked as an MP's representative in Amethi and Raebareli for decades and is familiar with the local population.

Sharma stated on the campaign trail. He has worked on the Congress' campaigns in Amethi and Raebareli. I am the same as before. This time, leadership has assigned me a different position, and I am working appropriately, he added.

Some BJP officials referred to him as a proxy candidate, with Dinesh Pratap Singj even calling Sharma Rahul Gandhi's "chaprasi" (peon). When asked about this comment, Sharma responded, "These are their values; my father was illiterate, but he taught me good values. I don't want to remark on this.

In the run-up to the election, Gandhi Vadra camped in Amethi and Raebareli, holding nukkad sabhas and public meetings to rally support for Sharma. If the stats are correct, her efforts have paid off.