Sonia Gandhi to contest Rajya Sabha polls, Priyanka to fight Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli

Speculations are rife that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi might contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections either from Rajasthan or Himachal Pradesh.

NDTV reported that daughter Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra is all set to make her election debut. According to reports, Priyanka might fight the Lok Sabha election from Raebareli, the home turf of the Gandhi family.

For decades, Sonia had contested from Raebareli. Making Priyanka take a political plunge suggests a change of guard in the top Congress leadership.

The Congress is expected to announce its candidates within the next one to two days.

Earlier, senior Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Kamal Nath had met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, asking her to represent the state in Rajya Sabha.

This was revealed by state unit president Jitu Patwari saying that the Madhya Pradesh Congress wants Soniaji to represent the state in Rajya Sabha, reports PTI news agency.

"All senior leaders from the state and MLAs are unanimous on this demand, he 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.

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

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