What Next For Raebareli After Sonia Gandhi? Rahul Gandhi Or Priyanka Gandhi?

There is also speculation Ms Gandhi Vadra might, in fact, contest the election, but not from Raebareli. She might, instead opt to face Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha-to-Rajya Sabha shift this year - from representing Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh to the state of Rajasthan - was supposed to signal a change in the leadership structure of a party many see as struggling for relevance before the general election.

Ms Gandhi - a 25-year veteran of the Lower House and the face of the Congress, in parliament and outside - this week said she would not seek re-election from Raebareli, a Congress stronghold previously held by Feroze Gandhi and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The 77-year-old Ms Gandhi this morning said "health and increasing age" meant she would not contest the Lok Sabha election, and she called on the people of Raebareli to "be with my family".