Sonia Gandhi to File Rajya Sabha Nomination in Rajasthan for Health Reasons

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is set to file her nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Rajasthan on Wednesday. The decision is attributed to health reasons, making regular visits to her Lok Sabha constituency challenging. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are expected to be present during the nomination filing. The Rajya Sabha election is scheduled for February 27, with the last date for filing nominations on February 15. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed Sonia Gandhi’s nomination, emphasizing her strong connection with Rajasthan.

Sonia Gandhi, a five-time Lok Sabha MP, led the Congress party for almost 22 years. Elected from Amethi and Bellary in 1999, she retained Amethi and later contested from Rae Bareli in 2004. With 56 members of Rajya Sabha retiring in April, including Manmohan Singh from Rajasthan, Sonia Gandhi’s entry into the upper house would mark a significant political move. If elected, she will be the second member of the Gandhi family in the Rajya Sabha, following Indira Gandhi’s tenure from August 1964 to February 1967. Amid Sonia Gandhi’s shift to the Rajya Sabha, speculation arises regarding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra potentially considering the Rae Bareli seat. However, no official decision has been made concerning Priyanka Gandhi’s electoral debut.