Delhi News : Sonia Gandhi, currently the president of the Congress party, submitted her nomination to run for a seat in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament) on a Wednesday. She was accompanied by her son, Rahul Gandhi, and her daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This event is notable because it signifies a notable change in Sonia’s political career as she is now opting out of running for a seat in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament) for the first time in around twenty-five years.
According to the list released by the Congress party for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, Sonia Gandhi is planned to run for a seat from Rajasthan, while Abhishek Manu Singhvi will run from Himachal Pradesh. Furthermore, Congress leaders Akhilesh Pradesh Singh and Chandrakant Handore are designated to be nominated from Bihar and Maharashtra respectively. The decision to choose Rajasthan for Sonia’s nomination over Himachal Pradesh was influenced by the party’s perception that representing a larger state in the Rajya Sabha would help strengthen their political narrative leading up to the Lok Sabha elections
Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming membership in the Rajya Sabha perpetuates a tradition within her family. Her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, previously served in the Upper House from August 1964 to February 1967. Additionally, Sonia Gandhi’s political trajectory has been characterized by her success in the Rae Bareli constituency, where she has secured victory in five consecutive elections. Notably, Rae Bareli was the only seat won by the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh during the 2019 elections.
Sonia Gandhi’s choice to move to the Rajya Sabha indicates a possible shift away from active participation in direct electoral contests, especially in light of her earlier statement in 2019 declaring that she wouldn’t run for another term in the Lok Sabha due to health concerns. Now, attention is turning to Priyanka Gandhi’s future electoral prospects. There are speculations that she might choose to run from Rae Bareli, a traditional stronghold of the Congress party, in the 2024 elections. Alternatively, there’s talk that she could opt for the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, which was previously held by her brother Rahul Gandhi. However, the ultimate decision on Priyanka’s candidacy will be made by the leadership of the Congress party.
56 members of the Rajya Sabha are scheduled to retire in April, focus is shifting towards the imminent elections to replace them, which are scheduled for February 27. The deadline for candidates to file their nominations is February 15.
Furthermore, it highlights the importance of small political parties within the broader political context, suggesting that these parties play a significant role for both the BJP and Congress.