The Congress's 11th-hour, early-morning decision on Amethi and Raebareli contained a big twist. Rahul Gandhi, who was expected to make an all-out bid to win back Amethi, has been announced as the party candidate from Raebareli, the seat vacated recently by his mother Sonia Gandhi when she moved to Rajya Sabha.

In Amethi, the family bastion which defected to the BJP five years ago, the Congress will be represented by Kishori Lal Sharma, a longtime loyalist of the Gandhi family. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could not be convinced to contest from Raebareli -- which she had nursed for over a decade on her mother's behalf.Sonia Gandhi along with Priyanka and Rahul have landed in Amethi where they will accompany Mr Sharma as he files his nomination. Mr Gandhi will be filing his nomination later in the day from Raebareli.

Sources say Rahul Gandhi will also hold a roadshow in Raebareli before filing his nomination papers.