Modi not invincible, don't forget 2004: Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination in the presence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, son-in-law Robert Vadra and grandchildren Rehan and Mariya after holding a roadshow.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during a roadshow, before filing her nomination papers for Raebareli Lok Sabha seat in Raebareli on Thursday. PTI Photo

RAE BARELI: UPA chairperson and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Thursday filed her nomination papers from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh and declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not invincible. She was accompanied by her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her son-in-law Robert Vadra. Before filing her nomination papers at the Collectorate here, the Sonia held a roadshow and offered puja at the Congress central office here. Asked if she feels that Modi is invincible, Sonia Gandhi said: "Not at all. Don't forget 2004. Vajpayeeji was (considered) invincible, but we won." Rahul Gandhi added: "There have been many people in Indian history who had arrogance to believe that they're invincible and are bigger than the people of India. "Modi in the last five years has done nothing for the people. His invincibility will be in full view after election results." Sonia Gandhi (72) is seeking re-election from the seat for the fifth time in a row. Congress workers carrying party flags and banners, gathered at the Collectorate to greet the UPA chairperson. Rae Bareli, where voting will be held in the fifth-phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 6, will see a straight contest between Sonia Gnadhi and Dinesh Pratap Singh, who recently joined the BJP after leaving the Congress. The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have not fielded a candidate in the Congress bastion. Sonia Gandhi had won the seat in 2004, 2006 (by-polls), 2009 and 2014. On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for neighbouring Amethi Lok Sabha seat. He had also held a roadshow and was accompanied by his family. The three-term MP from Amethi will take on Union Minister and BJP nominee Smriti Irani. Like Rae Bareli, in Amethi, too, the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh has not to fielded a candidate. This time, the Congress president is contesting a second seat, Wayanad, in Kerala where he had filed his papers on April 4. (With inputs from agencies)