Days after being elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, former PM and senior Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh took oath as a member of the Upper House of Parliament on Friday. The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. During the occasion, top Congress leaders including party's interim chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel and Anand Sharma were present to extend their support to the former PM as he took oath in the Chairman's chamber. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and some BJP leaders were also present at the occasion. 

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Dr Manmohan Singh won unopposed

The 86-year-old Congress leader was elected to Rajya Sabha, unopposed as the BJP did not put up a candidate against him from Rajasthan. He returned to the Rajya Sabha after a brief gap since his retirement from the Upper House on June 14 this year. Earlier, Manmohan Singh served as the member of the Upper House of Parliament from Assam for almost three decades. He was a Rajya Sabha member for five consecutive terms from 1991 to 2019 and the country's prime minister for two consecutive terms between 2004 and 2014. While his tenure in the Rajya Sabha terminated on June 14, he could not be renominated as the Congress party did not have the strength to send him to the Upper House from Assam again. Rajasthan has 10 Rajya Sabha seats. Remaining nine seats of Rajya Sabha from the state are with the BJP. 

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Rajasthan Congress leaders extend best wishes

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had taken to Twitter and congratulated Manmohan Singh on his election to the Upper House of Parliament. He had said that Dr Manmohan Singh’s election to the Upper House is a matter of pride for the entire state, adding that his knowledge and rich experience would benefit the people. Deputy CM Sachin Pilot too wished the former PM for being elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.

(Hearty congratulations to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji on being elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. The state will definitely benefit from your long and impeccable experience. Today all the people of the state are proud to have you as their representative.)

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