Congress Veteran Sonia Gandhi, BJP's Chunnilal Garasiya, Madan Rathore Elected Unopposed To RS From Rajasthan

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

File Photo of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi

Source : PTI Images

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday citing the Assembly secretary. Citing an official the report said that along with Gandhi, BJP's Chunnilal Garasiya and Madan Rathore elected unopposed to the Upper House from the state. 

This is Sonia's first time in the Upper House after serving six terms in the Lok Sabha.

Gandhi had previously informed voters in her Raebareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh that she would not run in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. 

Along with Cong candidate Sonia Gandhi, BJP's Chunnilal Garasiya and Madan Rathore elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan: Official

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 20, 2024

Last week, the former Congress president filed her nomination for Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, accompanied by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. According to reports, she has decided to move to the Rajya Sabha for health reasons, making it difficult for her to visit her Lok Sabha constituency on a regular basis.

Sonia Gandhi, the Congress president for nearly 22 years from 1998 to 2022, is a five-time Lok Sabha member. In 1999, she was elected from both Uttar Pradesh's Amethi and Karnataka's Bellary, and she retained Amethi. In 2004, Gandhi ran for Rae Bareli, leaving Amethi to Rahul Gandhi.

A total of 56 Rajya Sabha members from 15 states will retire in April, including Manmohan Singh, who was elected from Rajasthan.

Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister, also served in the Rajya Sabha from August 1964 until February 1967. If Sonia Gandhi joins the Rajya Sabha, she will become the second member of the Gandhi family to do so.

Following Sonia Gandhi's decision to withdraw from Raebareli, there is widespread speculation that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be considered for the seat. However, the leadership has not yet decided on Priyanka Gandhi's electoral debut.