Sonia Gandhi receives rousing welcome in home constituency of Rae Bareli

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was given a rousing welcome when she arrived on Wednesday to file her nomination papers for contesting the general elections from Rae Bareli.

The three-time MP from the constituency, who was accompanied by her son and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, was showered with rose petals, reflecting the local public's enthusiasm over her arrival.

Gandhi's white SUV weaved its way through the town making several stops, allowing Congress workers and others to greet and garland her.

Sonia has represented Rae Bareli since 2004, but the Nehru-Gandhi family's association with the constituency dates back to 1951, when Feroze Gandhi first won the Lok Sabha polls here.

He represented the constituency twice, as later did his wife and late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi was elected in the 1960s and also in 1980.

In 2009, Sonia won Rae Bareli with a margin of 73 percent over her closest opponent. This time, there's Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agarwal from the BJP in the fray. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate has still not been announced.