Lok Sabha polls: Sonia Gandhi files nomination as Congress candidate from Rajasthan

Lok Sabha polls: As Lok Sabha Elections 2024 encompassing both the general elections to elect members of the 18th Lok Sabha and assembly elections to select members of the Rajya Sabha, state legislative assemblies, panchayats, and urban local bodies is all set to take place in April-May this year, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Rajasthan on Wednesday.

Party MP Rahul Gandhi, party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and state party president Govind Singh Dotasra were also present.

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Sonia Gandhi played a crucial role in the formation of the UPA, a coalition of political parties with the Congress as its anchor. The UPA governed India for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014.

Sonia Gandhi's leadership helped maintain the relevance of the Congress Party in Indian politics. She served as the President of the Congress Party for several years, and her leadership was marked by electoral victories and policy initiatives
 
In the upcoming elections in Rajasthan, there are three Rajya Sabha seats at stake out of the total 10. Based on their respective strengths in the State Assembly, the ruling BJP is expected to secure two seats, while the Opposition Congress will likely secure one.

The BJP's candidates for the two seats are BJP State vice-president and former Minister Chunnilal Garasiya, and former Sumerpur MLA Madan Rathore.

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With the BJP holding 115 seats and the Congress having 70 MLAs in the 200-member State Assembly, a minimum of 67 votes will be needed to secure victory for one Rajya Sabha seat in case of a contest.
The Congress party announced on Wednesday the first list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha Biennial Elections to be held in various states.
 
The last day for filing nomination papers is February 15. The term for Rajya Sabha MPs is six years and elections are held after every two years for 33 per cent of the seats.

Currently, the Rajya Sabha has a strength of 245 members.

Out of the total 245 members, out of which 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir (w.e.f. 31.10. 2019) and 12 are nominated by the President. 12 are directly nominated by the President who are veterans in the field of art, literature, sports, science etc.

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