Speculation rife over Priyanka Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi entering Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh

Tribune News Service

Subhash Rajta

Shimla, February 2

Speculation is rife over Sonia Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi going to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh after the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Upper House elections a few days ago. In Himachal, one Rajya Sabha seat will fall vacant as BJP national president JP Nadda is about to complete his term.

If Gandhis say no, Anand to be frontrunner

• If it comes down to choosing a leader from the state, Anand Sharma, a former Rajya Sabha MP, will be among the frontrunners
• Besides having represented Himachal in the Rajya Sabha earlier as well, what goes in his favour is his proximity to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
• Asha Kumari, another senior leader who lost the Assembly poll from Dalhousie, too, will be keen to go to the Rajya Sabha

While the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) is yet to discuss the matter, several leaders are saying that “it’s possible if they are willing”. “The HPCC will discuss the matter shortly and it is possible that it may even invite either of the two to contest for the Rajya Sabha seat from the state,” said a senior Congress leader.

Another Congress leader said that it would be a positive development for the state and the HPCC if either of the two opted to go to the Rajya Sabha from the state. “We all know they have a special bond for Himachal. Of all the states, Priyanka Gandhi chose to have a house in Shimla. Having either of the two representing the state would be a win-win situation for both HPCC and the state,” he added.

And if these two do not agree to contest from the state, the state Congress leaders feel a local leader should be sent to the Rajya Sabha. “An outsider should not be preferred over the state leader in that case. It’s a big opportunity for the state leaders to go to Rajya Sabha and they should not be denied this chance,” he said.

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