Rahul files papers from Amethi

Making his electoral debut, Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, which had in the past elected his father Rajiv Gandhi, mother Sonia Gandhi and uncle Sanjay Gandhi.

Rahul was flanked by Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka and brother-in-law Robert Vadra, when he handed over the papers to the returning officer for contesting the elections. Sonia was at hand to help her son complete the process as a carnival atmosphere prevailed in the town to herald Rahul's entry into active politics.

The constituency had elected Sanjay Gandhi in 1980, Rajiv Gandhi in a subsequent by-election following death of Sanjay and in 1989, and Sonia Gandhi in 1999.

Later Rahul said he still considered Rajiv Gandhi alive and a source of inspiration and pledged to fulfil the promises made by his father. "I will work for the prosperity of the people of the constituency and the region". Priyanka said she was confident her brother would get elected with a big margin and would do good work.

Police had a tough time doing a balancing act with the crowd jostling to have a close look and a handshake with Rahul. Sonia, travelling in an open jeep that followed her children, was watching the fun.

Quietly and later joined them in the returning officer's room. Rahul and Priyanka, who were drowned in a hail of flowers and colours waved to the crowd and occasionally reached out to them by extending their haArriving at the returning officer's complex in an open jeep accompanied by his sister, Rahul, clad in white kurta-pyjama, received a tumultuous welcome all along the route with incessant rain of flowers and gulal (colours) by Congress workers, who shouted slogans hailing him and the party.