Sonia Gandhi likely to contest Rajya Sabha elections, health concerns may keep her out of Lok Sabha race

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is expected to be included in the party's list of candidates for the Rajya Sabha. There is speculation within the party that Sonia may represent either Himachal Pradesh or Rajasthan in the upper house of Parliament.

According to party insiders, as quoted by ToI, Sonia is unlikely to run for the Lok Sabha elections due to health concerns. Instead, securing a seat in the Rajya Sabha would allow her to continue her parliamentary duties while also addressing logistical considerations.

It has also been reported that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to stand as a candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli, the constituency which has been represented by Sonia Gandhi since 2004.


The Congress has to name candidates for election to Rajya Sabha seats from the states of Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Congress unit has appealed to former party chief Sonia Gandhi to represent the state in Rajya Sabha.

State unit president Jitu Patwari on Monday disclosed that senior leader Kamal Nath met Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi recently and urged her to consider the party unit's demand, according to a PTI report.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress wants Soniaji to represent the state in Rajya Sabha. All senior leaders from the state and MLAs are unanimous on this demand, Patwari said in a statement.

"The Congress party in the state feels that the voice of people will be strengthened if Soniaji, who had declined the post of prime minister in the past, goes to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh," he stated.

Patwari also said the state unit will support Kamal Nath if he is interested in becoming a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Five Rajya Sabha seats are falling vacant in Madhya Pradesh as the term of the incumbent members is expiring.

Out of these five seats, four are held by the ruling BJP and one by the opposition Congress.

In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly, the BJP has 163 MLAs and the Congress 66.

Given its legislative strength, the Congress can win one RS seat from Madhya Pradesh.

The biennial Rajya Sabha polls will be held on February 27 for 56 seats, as the tenure of incumbents will end in April, as per the Election Commission.

With inputs from PTI