‘Congressmen want Priyanka Gandhi as Rajya Sabha nominee from Rajasthan’

JAIPUR: AICC secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Vivek Bansal said party workers in Rajasthan expressed their desire for party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to be the Rajya Sabha nominee of the party from the state.
“We have conveyed the wishes of the Congressmen from the state to Priyankaji,” he told the reporters at the Birla Auditorium after attending a function. He said that the party will formally announce the candidate on August 12 or 13.
On the Congress working committee meeting scheduled on Saturday, Bansal said, “There have been discussions on the issue in the party for some time. On Saturday, it will reach its climax. On Saturday or in the next one or two days, a formal announcement would be made.”
He refuted the charge that the party has become defunct following the resignation of Rahul Gandhi from the president’s post. Bansal said in Rajasthan context, whether it is in the party or in government decisions are being taken and its results are also encouraging. The bypolls to the panchayat and local bodies, the party did very well, he said.
There were reports that the Congress would like to field former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Rajasthan to the seat fell vacant following the death of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Mandan Lal Saini.
Election commission had announced bye election to the seat on August 26. Nominations will begin on August 14. Congress has the support of 120 MLAs in 200-member assembly including the support of Independents. Thus, party is sure of winning the seat from state as it requires the support of 99 MLAs win seat.