New Delhi/IBNS: Cutting across all speculations that either Rahul Gandhi or Robert Vadra will contest from Amethi, a Congress bastion until 2019, the grand old party on Friday announced the name of Kishori Lal Sharma as its candidate from the seat for the Lok Sabha elections.

Sharma will fight from the seat in the Congress' bid to win it back, five years after Rahul was defeated by 'giant killer' Smriti Irani, a Union Minister.

After his candidature was announced, Sharma told ANI, "I want to thank Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for giving me the opportunity to contest from their traditional seat.

"I will work very hard...Rahul Gandhi is not someone who runs away from the ground. No one can predict anything (about votes). I will meet Priyanka Gandhi today..."

Who is Kishori Lal Sharma?

Sharma, who is from Punjab's Ludhiana, is associated with Congress for over four decades.

Working in Amethi since 1983, Sharma also played a key role in Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi's win from the seat in 1999.

As per reports, Sharma was close to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. His ties with the Gandhi family strengthened after Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in 1991.

Sharma used to manage the party affairs in Rae Bareli and Amethi, which were the strongholds of Congress.