NEW DELHI: With Sonia Gandhi hinting that she may not contest the next Lok Sabha elections due to ill health, Congress is making moves to make her a member of the Rajya Sabha. Currently, Sonia is a Lok Sabha member representing Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress is trying to make Sonia a Rajya Sabha member so that the party will not lose Sonia's 10 Janpath residence.

Rahul Gandhi, who had to leave the government residence after getting disqualified as MP, is also living here now. Rahul and Priyanka's offices are also located at 10 Janpath.

The Congress wants Sonia, who is being considered as the president of the new opposition alliance 'INDIA', to remain a member of Parliament. Recently, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promised to give Sonia one of the three Congress seats falling vacant in Karnataka in April 2024. According to sources, Sonia has not responded to this.

The Congress is planning to field Sonia Gandhi's daughter and AICC general secretary in charge of UP Priyanka Gandhi in Raebareli in the next election. As a new member, Priyanka will not get the big bungalow in Janpath.

At present, Syed Naseer Hussain, Dr L Hanumanthaiahand GC Chandrasekhar are Congress Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka. Among these, Naseer Hussain, a close confidante of chairman Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to remain a Rajya Sabha member. One seat may be given to Congress social media chief and spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. The plan is to give the third seat to Sonia.