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Reported By: Pallavi Ghosh
Last Updated: February 02, 2024, 16:01 IST
Sonia Gandhi’s entry into the Rajya Sabha could mean the political debut of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (left). (PTI File)
While it is true that Sonia Gandhi has virtually stayed away from active politics, her party wants her to be politically active. A Rajya Sabha seat would ensure this
All eyes are on the lone seat held by the Congress in Uttar Pradesh — Rae Bareilly. As the party gets into the election mode, questions are now being asked on whether Sonia Gandhi will contest from the seat, retire, or go to Rajya Sabha.
ALSO READ | Congress Might Field Sonia or Priyanka Gandhi for Himachal Pradesh’s Rajya Sabha Seat
Senior Congress leaders have already offered their Rajya Sabha seats in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh to Gandhi.
The Election Commission (EC) has announced elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats on February 27. Among the states from which the Congress can comfortably send Gandhi are Telangana, where it is in power and has 3 seats in its quota, Himachal Pradesh (1), Bihar (6) and Rajasthan (6). Both Himachal and Telangana look comfortable for Gandhi to win.
WHY RS?
However, the key question is — Why a Rajya Sabha seat for Gandhi who, unlike Dr Manmohan Singh, has contested the Lok Sabha polls? The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cannot accuse her of being an armchair politician, because as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Congress president, she has ensured two consecutive wins for her party at the Centre.
While it is true that Gandhi has virtually stayed away from active politics, her party wants her to be politically active. A Rajya Sabha seat would ensure this. With dwindling numbers of the opposition in the upper house, many feel that Gandhi would add heft to Rajya Sabha for the opposition and Congress’s political presence in the house.
WAY FOR PRIYANKA?
Gandhi’s entry into the Rajya Sabha could mean the political debut of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While some speculate that Priyanka may also enter the Rajya Sabha, sources close to her say she wants a fight by nature and doesn’t want to debut with a comfortable battle. In case Priyanka plans to contest the Lok Sabha polls, with Sonia Gandhi in the Rajya Sabha, the Rae Bareilly will be vacant for her.
ALSO READ | Telangana Congress Urges Sonia Gandhi to Contest from State
But the feedback for the party is that Rae Bareilly may not be an easy one this time around, and even worse, in case seat-sharing doesn’t work out between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress.
It is not an easy decision to make.
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