Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination for Rajya Sabha here on Wednesday. After a journey of two and a half decades in Lok Sabha, her moving to the upper house has created a stir. The Congress seems to be turbulent wondering about the repercussions of this move, as different people may construe this decision with their perspective. It may never be seen as a clever political maneuver to step down from an illustrious twenty-five-year tenure. So far, the senior party leaders have not been able to muster the courage to contest the elections. Sonia’s decision may have a significant impact on the morale of the other leaders as well, as it may bring about a spirit of enthusiasm in the party workers.
However, there is no uncertainty about this election as two BJP members are to file nominations on Thursday. In this way, only the three members including Sonia will remain in the field, who are assured of getting through. At the time of nomination on Wednesday, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi along with Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, State President Govind Singh Dotasara, Legislative Party leader Tika Ram Julie and most of the MLAs and prominent leaders of the party were present. All the leaders looked happy. Former Chief Minister Gehlot said that it is a matter of pride for us that Sonia Gandhi chose Rajasthan for Rajya Sabha. Almost all the leaders said the same thing. But with Sonia’s filing of nomination, a new debate has also stuck.BJP certainly became the aggressor, but even experts are surprised as to why they did this.
Apprehensive of defeat or age factor?
The discussion of 77-year-old Sonia Gandhi moving to the Upper House is creating rounds of speculation. Some argue that it is an alternative to defeat while some believe that it’s the age factor and health issues that are inevitable with age. BJP ascertains that this is because of fear of defeat. However, if it is so it might be considered as demoralizing for the party. Earlier in the Gandhi family, Indira Gandhi was elected to the Rajya Sabha for two years in the 60s. That was her political debut. The party had sent her to the Rajya Sabha in the beginning of politics for experience. But, Sonia Gandhi has been reaching the Lok Sabhaby acquiring victor with a noteworthy tenure of two and a half decades. She entered politics from the year 1998 and proved to be a successful politician.
Congress came to power under Sonia
Despite Sonia’s naivety, the party was able to stay in power for a decade under her leadership. But in 2013, as soon as her son Rahul Gandhi became the political successor, the party started facing a downfall. The party lost two consecutive Lok Sabha elections, While the position in states also became unstable. After a lot of efforts, the party was not able to resurrect and it continued to plummet. Now that the general elections are around the corner, the supreme leader of the party has decided to come from Rajya Sabha. Now the question is why did the need arise? Looking at the changing environment of the country, she probably understood that the situation in her Rae Bareli seat was not favorable for the party. If she loses this seat the party would get into a severe identity crisis. Another massive setback would follow as she would have to vacate 10 Janpath, her house where she had many memories. 10 Janpath is the house where she shifted with her husband Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. She has been living in 10 Janpath for more than 35 years. Even if Sonia had decided not to contest the elections, housing would have become a big problem. Therefore, experts believe that Sonia made the right decision after deliberate thinking. There is no doubt that Sonia Gandhi did not let the party weaken until she took charge of the party. One of his good qualities was that he always respected the senior leaders of the party and took decisions after discussion. After leaving the post of president, the party took a different path under the leadership of Rahul, which caused more losses.
Sonia Gandhi tried to improve the situation from her side, but some wrong decisions put the party in big trouble.
Distance from Ram temple idol and life prestige became a big mistake
Congress made a big mistake by staying away from the consecration ceremony of the childhood idol of Ram in the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Due to this the allies of the Indi alliance not only got scattered but the party was no longer confident of victory in seats like Rae Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.