According to Congress sources, the idea to invite Rahul or sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Karnataka had been discussed long ago keeping in mind the attention the late PM Indira Gandhi and Rahul's mother Sonia Gandhi got when they contested from Chikkamagaluru (1978) and Ballari (1999) Lok Sabha seats, respectively.

from Times of India https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/fight-polls-from-karnataka-siddaramaiahs-invite-to-rahul/articleshow/68434504.cms