With UPA president Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by his side, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat at the Collectorate here.

Rahul was also accompanied by Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra and their two children to send a message that the entire family gives much importance to the Congress bastion, party leaders said

The Congress chief and his family were greeted by party workers, who gathered in the city, despite hot weather conditions, to get a glimpse of their leaders.

The three-time MP from Amethi will take on Union Minister and BJP nominee Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha election in virtually a direct contest as the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh has decided not to field a candidate from the seat.

This time, the Congress president is contesting a second seat, Wayanad, in Kerala where he had filed his papers on April 4.