Rae Bareli cheers Sonia as she files nomination

Rae Bareli: Congress president Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers on Wednesday from the constituency that sent her to the Lok Sabha since 2004. 

Chauffeur-driven by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress president arrived at the Collectorate to file the nomination. The white SUV weaved its way through the dusty town making several stops, allowing Congress workers and others to greet and garland Sonia Gandhi. At every stop, security personnel diligently wiped heaps of flower petals off the windscreen.

Sonia Gandhi won from Rae Bareli with a record 72.23% in the last Lok Sabha election. This constituency was formerly represented by Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi, and for most part held by Congress (except during1977-80 and 1996-99).

Mrs Gandhi was named the third most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine in the year 2004[55] and was ranked 6th in 2007. In 2010, Gandhi ranked as the ninth most powerful person on the planet by Forbes Magazine. She was also named among the Time 100 most influential people in the world for the years 2007 and 2008.