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NEW DELHI: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday arrived in Jaipur with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by her side and is likely to file her nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls.
This is likely to be the first time that Sonia would not contest in the Lok Sabha election since entering politics nearly two-and-a-half decades ago.
TOI earlier reported that Sonia considered both Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, but decided in favour of the latter. A party strategist said the senior leader felt that going to a larger state for RS would help in political messaging ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
Sonia will not be the first member from the Gandhi family to enter the Rajya Sabha. Her mother-in-law and former PM Indira Gandhi was also a member of the Upper House from August 1964 to February 1967.
Sonia, who currently represents Rae Bareli constituency in outgoing Lok Sabha, has won the seat five times since 1999. In 2019, Rae Bareli was the only seat won by Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka for Rae Bareli?
The Congress matriarch’s likely Rajya Sabha move indicates that she may retire from electoral politics. She had announced in 2019 that it would be her last Lok Sabha election. Due to health reasons, Sonia has stayed away from electioneering for the last few years.
Speculations are rife that Priyanka Gandhi could contest from Congress bastion Rae Bareli in 2024 elections.
However, sources said that Priyanka could also be considered for Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, previously held by Rahul Gandhi.
“A final decision on whether she will contest the Lok Sabha election is yet to be taken by the party leadership,” the sources said.
As many as 56 members of Rajya Sabha from 15 states are retiring in April and the election to the seats will be held on February 27. The last date for filing nominations is February 15.
This is likely to be the first time that Sonia would not contest in the Lok Sabha election since entering politics nearly two-and-a-half decades ago.
TOI earlier reported that Sonia considered both Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, but decided in favour of the latter. A party strategist said the senior leader felt that going to a larger state for RS would help in political messaging ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
Sonia will not be the first member from the Gandhi family to enter the Rajya Sabha. Her mother-in-law and former PM Indira Gandhi was also a member of the Upper House from August 1964 to February 1967.
Sonia, who currently represents Rae Bareli constituency in outgoing Lok Sabha, has won the seat five times since 1999. In 2019, Rae Bareli was the only seat won by Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
Priyanka for Rae Bareli?
The Congress matriarch’s likely Rajya Sabha move indicates that she may retire from electoral politics. She had announced in 2019 that it would be her last Lok Sabha election. Due to health reasons, Sonia has stayed away from electioneering for the last few years.
Speculations are rife that Priyanka Gandhi could contest from Congress bastion Rae Bareli in 2024 elections.
However, sources said that Priyanka could also be considered for Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, previously held by Rahul Gandhi.
“A final decision on whether she will contest the Lok Sabha election is yet to be taken by the party leadership,” the sources said.
As many as 56 members of Rajya Sabha from 15 states are retiring in April and the election to the seats will be held on February 27. The last date for filing nominations is February 15.
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