Sonia Gandhi's Transition to Rajya Sabha Marks Political Shift

Sonia Gandhi's decision to opt for the Rajya Sabha instead of contesting the Lok Sabha elections is seen by the BJP as an admission of the Congress party's "looming defeat" in the upcoming polls. BJP leaders commented that the Gandhis have deserted their supposed strongholds, with Sonia Gandhi choosing the Rajya Sabha route instead of contesting from her family pocket borough Rae Bareli. The Congress is expected to win one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan, and Sonia Gandhi's nomination marks her first term in the Upper House after serving five terms as a Lok Sabha MP. BJP leaders also suggested that the Gandhi family's move reflects fear of facing the people in their constituencies and predicted a BJP sweep in the forthcoming general elections in Uttar Pradesh.