Abhinit Kumar

New Delhi: Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi ended her Lok innings and opted for the upper house of Parliament route. She filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Rajasthan on Wednesday with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanying her. Sonia Gandhi left her Delhi residence early in the morning and reached Jaipur by 10 am. According to reports, Sonia Gandhi has decided to shift to the Rajya Sabha because of health reasons, which makes it difficult for her to visit her Lok Sabha constituency regularly. But informed sources say Sonia’s decision to opt for a Rajya Sabha seat was made to retain 10, Janpath, which has been her residence since 1989 when Rajiv Gandhi moved in after losing power that year.

Post 2019, due to her health and various other reasons, Sonia has not been able to nurse her Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency as much as she would have liked. The possibility of Priyanka Gandhi contesting in 2024 or winning Raebareli would not have solved the issue of retaining 10, Janpath. As a first-time MP, Priyanka would not be entitled to get 10, Janpath.

The last date for filing the nomination is February 15. The Rajya Sabha election is scheduled to be held on February 27. The Congress released a statement nominating Sonia Gandhi from Rajasthan, Akhilesh Prasad Singh from Bihar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi from Himachal Pradesh, and Chandrakant Handore from Maharashtra.

On Monday, after a high-level meeting of the party leaders attended by Mallikarjun Kharge, Mukul Wasnik, Ajay Maken, Salman Khurshid, and KC Venugopal, it was indicated that Sonia Gandhi may shift to the upper house leaving the poll fray for the first time. Apart from Rajasthan, the party had Himachal Pradesh as an option for her, but Gandhi chose Rajasthan, reports said.

Sonia Gandhi, who was Congress president for almost 22 years between 1998 and 2022, is a five-time Lok Sabha MP. She was elected from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi and Karnataka's Bellary in 1999 and retained Amethi. In 2004, Gandhi contested from Rae Bareli vacating Amethi for Rahul Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from August 1964 to February 1967. With Sonia Gandhi set to enter Rajya Sabha, she will be the second member of the Gandhi family to do so.

Speculations over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's poll debut

Following Sonia Gandhi's opting out from Rae Bareli, speculation is rife that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may be considered for the seat. However, the leadership has not yet taken any decision regarding Priyanka Gandhi's electoral debut.

BJP leader's 'tired' jibe over Rajya Sabha nomination

Reacting to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's Rajya Sabha nomination from Rajasthan, Union Minister Giriraj Singh took a sharp jibe on Wednesday, saying she must be tired. “Sonia Gandhi is the biggest leader of Congress. Now, people will decide whether Congress is tired of Sonia Gandhi. We wish that she comes to Rajya Sabha,” Giriraj Singh said.