Sonia in mood to retire, Priyanka says she will contest Lok Sabha polls

New Delhi: Putting at rest speculations about Sonia Gandhi's retirement from politics, her daughter and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said her mother would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from her constituency of Rae Bareli.

Talking to NDTV at a function where her brother Rahul took over as party president, Priyanka also refuted rumours that she herself would be contesting from Rae Bareli in 2019. 'There is no question of my contesting from Rae Bareli. My mother will be contesting.

'My mother is the bravest woman I have seen. She would be contesting the 2019 elections from rae Bareli , not me,' she added.The statement by Ms Priyanka came a day after Ms Sonia Gandhi, when asked about her role after Mr Rahul's elevation, said 'my job is to retire', setting off speculations about her retirement from politics.

However, the party later clarified that she was retiring as president of the Congress and not from politics."Ms Sonia Gandhi has retired as president of Indian National Congress and not from politics. Her blessings, wisdom and innate commitment to Congress ideology shall always be our guiding light,"AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala had said in a tweet yesterday.(UNI)