Sonia Gandhi Filed Nomination For Rajya Sabha Polls from Rajasthan

Recently, Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination as Congress candidate for Rajya Sabha Biennial polls from Rajasthan. In Rajasthan there are a total ten seats reserved in Rajya Sabha. 

• A total of 56 members from 15 states will retire from Rajya Sabha in April. Elections to fill vacant seats will take place on February 27, with the last date for nominations being February 15.
• Currently, the BJP holds 93 seats in the Rajya Sabha, while Congress has 30 seats, Trinamool Congress has 13 seats, and there are six nominated members, among others, in a house of 239 with six vacancies.

About Sonia Gandhi’s Nomination

• After serving five terms as a Lok Sabha MP, Sonia Gandhi will now serve her first term in Rajya Sabha. The 77-year old Gandhi has represented Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha and has announced that she will not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
• Political career of Sonia Gandhi
• Sonia Gandhi became an MP for the first time in 1999, after taking over as the Congress president. She will be following in the footsteps of her family member, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, who was a member of the Rajya Sabha from August 1964 to February 1967. 
• This will make Sonia Gandhi the second member of the Gandhi family to enter the Upper House.

About Rajya Sabha 

• The Indian Parliament is divided into two houses: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 
• The Rajya Sabha, Council of States, is the upper house of the Indian Parliament. 
• It is composed of representatives from the various states and union territories, as well as individuals appointed by the President of India. 
• The Vice-President of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, while a Deputy Chairman is chosen from among its members. If the Chairman is absent, the Deputy Chairman presides over the proceedings.
• Rajya Sabha was formed on 3 April 1952, and its first meeting was held on 13 May 1952. 

Strength: 

• The Rajya Sabha has the maximum strength of  250 members, in which 238 are elected, and 12 are nominated by the President of India. 
• Rajya Sabha only represents the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry since they have their own legislative assemblies. 
• However, when the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has an elected legislative assembly, it will send four members to Rajya Sabha. 

Tenure:

• The term of a member in Rajya Sabha is six years, but if a member is elected in a bye-election, they will serve for the remaining term of the vacancy caused. 
• One-third of the members retire every two years.