NEW DELHI, January 1: Sonia Gandhi's name is likely to figure in the list of Lok Sabha candidates to be submitted by Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president ND Tiwari over the next two days to the party high command.Congress leaders said Tiwari will propose only Sonia's name for two Lok Sabha constituencies in the State, Rae Bareli and Amethi, both represented by members of the Nehru family in the past. The concerned District Congress Committees (DCC) have already said they are willing to accept Sonia as their candidate provided she is ready.But things have gone ahead and now the pressure shifts to 10, Janpath, which has the duty to either accept or refuse the nomination. And with the election schedule having been announced by the Election Commission (EC) today, a decision will have to be taken sooner than later.Sources in the Congress said Tiwari's move has the blessings of party president Sitaram Kesri and the UPCC chief is only too keen to field Sonia as a candidate and whip up a favourable `mini wave' for the Congress in the crucial State of UP. The BJP is concentrating on at least retaining its 52 seats from UP in the last Lok Sabha and the Congress is equally desperate to prevent that.In the past, Indira Gandhi had represented Rae Bareli and Rajiv Gandhi was elected from Amethi. In the last Lok Sabha, former Union Minister Satish Sharma was elected from Amethi after Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to put up a candidate there in deference to 10, Janpath.All this depends though on Sonia. Today, 1998's New Year's Day, was a big day for 10, Janpath. If flowers are any indication, Sonia is the queen of hearts and the whole of today confirmed once and for all who matters in the Congress.Sonia was practically besieged with bouquets of various sizes, each trying to outdo the other. In the lead was, predictably, Kesri, who landed with a huge bouquet.
