A day after filing nomination for Rajya Sabha polls from Rajasthan, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi wrote an emotional letter to the people of her Lok Sabha constituency Rae Bareli.

In her letter released to the media on Thursday, she said she will not contest the next Lok Sabha elections because of health reasons and increasing age.

However, citing her deep relationship with Rae Bareli, Gandhi appealed to the voters to take care of her family in future also as they have till now.

It has become clear from his appeal that someone from the Gandhi family will contest elections from Rae Bareli. There is a strong possibility of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra donning the shoes of her mother and contesting from this constituency.

Ms Gandhi has written in the letter that her family was incomplete in Delhi and people of Rae Bareli completed it. ”This close relationship is very old and it has been passed to me as a good fortune by my in-laws ,” she said in her letter written in Hindi.

She further wrote,” Our family’s ties with Rae Bareli have deep roots. In the first Lok Sabha elections held after Independence, you made my father-in-law Feroze Gandhi win from here ….. After him, you made my mother-in-law Indira Gandhi your representative. From then till now, this relation progressed with love and enthusiasm through the ups and downs and the difficult path of life and our faith grew stronger”.

Gandhi said ,”You allowed me to walk on this enlightened path. After losing my mother-in-law and my life partner forever, I came to you and you took me in. In the last two elections, you stood by me like a rock even in difficult circumstances, I can never forget this. I am proud to say that whatever I am today, is because of you (people) and I have always tried to live up to this trust”.

She said that now due to health and increasing age, she will not contest the next Lok Sabha elections. ” After this decision, I will not get the opportunity to serve you directly, but it is certain that my heart and soul will always be with you. I know that you will take care of me and my family in every difficulty in the same way as you have been taking care of me till now.”

She also promised to come to Rae Bareli soon.