Sonia Gandhi Files Rajya Sabha Nomination from Rajasthan
Posted by admin on 2024-02-14 |
On Wednesday, Sonia
Gandhi officially submitted her nomination as the Congress candidate for the
upcoming Rajya Sabha Biennial elections from Rajasthan. Accompanied by her
children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi made the trip to
Jaipur specifically to file her nomination. The event took place at the
Rajasthan Assembly building, where notable figures such as former Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Govind Singh
Dotasra, and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully were present to witness the
filing.
This move comes ahead
of the retirement of 56 members of the Rajya Sabha from 15 states in April,
with elections scheduled for February 27. The deadline for filing nominations
is February 15. Currently, the BJP holds 93 seats in the Rajya Sabha, with
Congress following with 30 seats, along with 13 from the Trinamool Congress,
and six nominated members, among others, in a house comprising 239 members with
six vacancies.
Sonia Gandhi's
decision to enter the Rajya Sabha marks a significant shift after serving five
terms as a Lok Sabha MP. At 77 years old, Sonia Gandhi, who previously
represented Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha, has declared that she will not contest
the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, the Congress has nominated Abhishek
Manu Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh, Chandrakant Handore from Maharashtra, and
Akhilesh Prasad Singh from Bihar for the Rajya Sabha elections.
This step also
signifies a potential transition for Sonia Gandhi, suggesting her retirement
from active electoral politics. This intention was hinted at back in 2019 when
she announced that it would be her final Lok Sabha election due to health
reasons. Notably, Sonia Gandhi has refrained from participating in election
campaigns in recent years.
Moreover, the
speculation surrounding Priyanka Gandhi's future political endeavors adds
another layer of intrigue. There are suggestions that she may contest from the
Congress stronghold of Rae Bareli in the 2024 elections. However, alternative
possibilities include her candidacy for the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency,
previously held by Rahul Gandhi.
In
essence, Sonia Gandhi's nomination for the Rajya Sabha reflects both a personal
decision to transition from electoral politics and a strategic move by the
Congress party. It sets the stage for potential shifts within the party's
leadership and electoral strategies, especially considering the emerging roles
of her children, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, in the political landscape.
