Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination papers in Jaipur on Wednesday for the Rajya Sabha biennial polls to be held on three seats on February 27.
Four sets of nomination papers, proposed and seconded by MLAs were submitted to Election Officer and Assembly Secretary Mahavir Prasad Sharma.
After arriving at Jaipur International Airport, Sonia, accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra moved to Taj Hotel (Ram Bagh) where she had a stopover. She held discussions with former CM Ashok Gehlot and other local leaders including PCC President GS Dotasar and Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully.
On arriving at Election Office in Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha, Ms Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Ms Vadra were extended warm welcome and felicitated in Rajasthani style in “Opposition lobby’ by party MLAs and top state leaders.
Posting on his X, party’s General Secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh said, “We welcome Sonia Gandhi. People of Rajasthan welcome her. During the UPA I and UPA II governments, a lot of work was done…Sonia Gandhi has worked as Congress president for long…So, there is great joy among Congress people and the public in Rajasthan. Her arrival will strengthen us.”
Alwar’s royal scion Bhanwar Jitendra was front runner for the RS seat from Rajasthan. Former CM Gehlot has also welcomed party decision for nominating Ms Gandhi and thanked Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for this selection.
The BJP has already fielded its candidates — Madan Rathore Chunnilal Garasia — for this biennial polls.
Former PM Manmohan Singh (Congress) and BJP’s Union Minister Bhupender Yadav will retire from Rajya Sabha on April 3. The third seat fell vacant following the resignation of BJP’s RS MP Kirori Lal Meena who contested the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election and became agriculture minister in the Bhajan Lal government.
The last date of filing nomination papers is February 15.
Of the 200 members of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, the ruling BJP has a strength of 115 MLAs, Congress 70, Bhartiya Tribal Party 3, BSP 2, RLD & RLP one each and Independents 8. Hence the BJP will have victory on two seats, and the Congress one, if the election goes uncontested on February 27.
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