Rahul Gandhi Slams BJP for Insulting Veteran Amethi Winner KL Sharma as ‘Steno’, ‘PA’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has slammed the BJP for insulting his party’s winning candidate from Amethi, KL Sharma, by deriding the senior leader with pejorative terms like ‘steno’ and ‘PA’.

Addressing the media after Sharma’s victory over BJP’s Smriti Irani, Gandhi said the saffron party does not accord respect to opposition leaders and workers.

“Kishori Lal ji has been working for the Congress party for 40 years. The BJP didn’t understand that he has a deep connect with the people of Amethi which ensured his certain victory,” Rahul stated.

“To call him ‘steno’ or ‘PA’ is offensive and it should be stopped,” the former Congress chief asserted, taking exception to the BJP’s remarks.

Sharma, a longtime Congress loyalist from Punjab, has been associated with the party’s Amethi and Rae Bareli units for nearly four decades now. He managed Sonia Gandhi’s campaign from Rae Bareli in 1999 and later oversaw both constituencies after she moved to Rae Bareli in 2004.

The 72-year-old is said to have enjoyed a close rapport with Rahul’s father and former PM Rajiv Gandhi during his years in Amethi. His deep roots and organizational experience is seen as a key factor in his resounding win against Irani this time.

“I want to congratulate him. He has really won this in a good fashion,” Rahul said while felicitating Sharma for bucking anti-incumbency and retaining the Gandhi pocketborough for the party.

The Amethi result has added to the Congress’ tally in Uttar Pradesh and given it a moral boost after facing a washout in the state in 2014 and 2019.

Gandhi’s strong remarks underline his commitment to giving respect to veteran Congressmen as well as the deep symbolism Amethi holds for the Grand Old Party.