The Rajya Sabha election on June 10 is an ordeal for the Indian National Congress, the oldest party in India. The upcoming polls would also test the evolutionary promises by Congress in its recent Rajasthan campaigns. The candidates shall start filling out the nomination papers on Wednesday.
The Rajya Sabha election, for 57 seats across 15 states, is imperative against the backdrop of the Presidential Elections in July. The Congress aims to grab at least eight seats in the Rajya Sabha. INC has eyes laid on three seats from Rajasthan, two from Chattisgarh, and one each from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Haryana. These numbers could ascend by one with a position from Maharashtra. In addition to this, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is ready to give one seat from Tamil Nadu. However, the Congress is at the charity of its Bihar and Jharkhand allies for more berths.
Hindrances For Congress
Eight years ago, the dawn of the Modi-led NDA government proved deadly for the parliamentary reputation of Congress. Further, incidents like G23, the rebellion by 23 Senior Congress politicians, weakened the party forces. The G23 leaders include Gulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal, and Congress General Secretary, Mukul Vasnik. Currently, the tenure of nine out of 29 members of the Congress Party is coming to an end. The accumulation of all these has made the Rajya Sabha 2022 elections a tightrope walk for INC. Moreover, the tenures of veterans like P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh are expiring.
Congress has to focus on maintaining an equation between caste and religion. However, Rajiv Shukla, a Brahmin face of the Congress party and a Gandhi family loyalist, has withdrawn his candidature. Kapil Sibal has also drawn swords with the Gandhi family and given Chintan Shivir a miss. Now, the lawyer can seek the support of regional parties like Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party, and the RJD to clutch a seat.
Another Dalit leader, Kumari Selja, would be accommodated from Haryana. However, there is cut-throat competition in Haryana. Haryana State President Bhupinder Hooda and Congress Media Chairperson Randeep Surjewala are also in line. However, as Sonia Gandhi reaches the rebel camp, she ensures that all voices are heard.
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