New Delhi, June 11
AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni was a surprise inclusion in the list of five names finalised by the Congress for the coming Rajya Sabha elections. Among the others whose candidature was cleared included Union Ministers Shivraj Patil and Oscar Fernandes.
Media magnate Vijay Darda and AICC Secretary B.K. Hari Prasad were named from Maharashtra and Karnataka, respectively.
While the inclusion of the two ministers was a foregone conclusion, Ms Soni’s name created quite a stir, particularly since she is to be the candidate from Punjab. This set off immediate speculation that Ms Soni’s election from the state is possibly the first step towards a leadership change. Ms Soni is a sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Delhi but she resigned her seat even though she has 18 months left of her tenure.
Congress insiders revealed there were no immediate plans to replace Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, but Ms Soni’s candidature from the state is essentially meant to position her for a future role. Her election will help re-establish her links with the state and given her proximity to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, she can emerge as an alternative power centre in due course. Even today.
There is also speculation that Ms Soni might have been asked to vacate her Delhi seat to make way for Union Minister P.M. Sayeed, who has to be given a Rajya Sabha berth as he was defeated in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Congress sources said the party can win a total of 15 seats in these Rajya Sabha elections. The largest contingent will be from Andhra Pradesh where the party is in a position to win five seats after the recent Assembly polls. Congress secretary, strategist and member of Ms Gandhi’s core team Jairam Ramesh is being mentioned as a possibility from Andhra Pradesh. Mr Ravi Mallu and Mr Hanumanth Rao are among the other names under consideration, it is learnt.
The Congress is yet to name its second candidate from Punjab.
