Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has taken oath as a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan, filling the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The timing of her oath-taking, just ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, adds significance to the political landscape.
Sonia Gandhi was administered the oath in the presence of Leader of the House Piyush Goyal and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. Notable figures such as her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, and secretary-general P C Mody were also in attendance.
Expressing his best wishes on X (formerly Twitter), Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended his support for Sonia Gandhi’s new role in the Upper House. He commended her resilience and grace, which have been evident throughout her tenure in politics.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was among the 14 individuals who also took the oath as members of the Rajya Sabha on the same day. Vaishnaw, representing Odisha, joined others like Congress leader Ajay Maken from Karnataka, BJP leader R P N Singh from Uttar Pradesh, and BJP member Samik Bhattacharya from West Bengal in taking the oath.
The oath-taking ceremony, presided over by Vice-president and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, took place in the new Parliament House building. Among those who took the oath alongside Sonia Gandhi were YSRCP leaders Gola Babu Rao, Medha Raghunath Reddy, and Yerum Venkat Subba Reddy.