New Delhi: A day ahead of the deadline, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Rajasthan, at the state assembly in Jajpur. She was accompanied by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
According to reports, Sonia Gandhi decided to shift to Rajya Sabha because of health reasons, which was making it difficult for her to tour her Lok Sabha constituency regularly. She represented Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms. In 2019, Rae Bareli was the only seat won by Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
Speculation is rife that the party might field Priyanka from either Rae Bareli or Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, previously held by Rahul Gandhi, in 2024 elections.
Earlier in the day, the Congress released the list for the upcoming RS polls, nominating Sonia from Rajasthan, spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh and former minister Chandrakant Handore from Maharashtra. In Bihar, the party re-nominated party leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh.
A total of 56 members of Rajya Sabha from 15 states are retiring in April, including Manmohan Singh who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.