From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: In a reconciliation move with the rebel G-23 group, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has decided to field its former Rajya Sabha opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad (73) from Rajasthan and also accommodate Rajya Sabha deputy leader Anand Sharma(69) from Maharashtra or Haryana.
Her daughter and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi(50) is also tipped to enter the Rajya Sabha from Karanataka, thus the positions to the entire family in Parliament — Sonia and Rahul in the Lok Sabha and now Priyanka in Rajya Sabha.
Priyanka’s name was earlier in consideration from Rajasthan but Sonia is understood to have decided to bring her to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.
All four retiring MPs in Rajasthan are from BJP while the Congress in power is able to easily get three elected. Name of Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, former union minister and close friend of Rahul Gandhi, is in circulation for a Rajya Sabha seat.
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha last time from Maharashtra, will return from his home state Tamil Nadu since the ruling DMK has agreed to spare a seat for the Congress.
Polling in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections to fill up 57 seats are slated on June 10.
