BJP leader Rajinder Rana has accused the Congress of selling its lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh. His remarks came days after the ruling party surprised many by selecting Kangra District Congress Committee president Anurag Sharma as its candidate.
Several senior party leaders, including former Union minister Anand Sharma, were considered strong contenders for the Rajya Sabha nomination. However, the Congress eventually picked Anurag Sharma, who is believed to be close to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
In a video released on Sunday, Rana questioned the chief minister over the decision and alleged that the Rajya Sabha seat had been sold. “I want to ask the chief minister how much the Rajya Sabha seat was sold for and whether the deal was finalised in Dubai,” Rana said. The former Congress leader had cross-voted in favour of the BJP during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections and later joined the saffron party.
The biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are scheduled to be held on March 16. Rana’s remarks came days after Anand Sharma had said last week that “self-respect is very expensive” and that speaking the truth had become a punishable political crime in today’s political environment.
Anand Sharma was among the frontrunners for the Rajya Sabha ticket, along with other senior Congress leaders. However, the party leadership surprised many by announcing the name of Anurag Sharma.
When asked about the development, Anand Sharma said he was not aware of what had happened and that those in authority had taken the decision 'in their wisdom'. The former Union minister had earlier raised concerns about the functioning of the party leadership. He was also part of the G23 group of senior Congress leaders, who had written to interim president Sonia Gandhi seeking organisational reforms, collective leadership and internal elections.
Rana further claimed that discontent within the Congress in Himachal Pradesh was growing.
"All sections of society, including women, Congress workers, MLAs, ministers and contractors, were already worried, but now even the senior Congress leaders who dedicated their lives to the party are worried and feeling humiliated," Rana added. He also alleged that Himachal Pradesh was facing a financial crisis while the chief minister’s close associates were enjoying benefits and privileges. Rana added that the people of the state would give a befitting reply to the Congress in the next assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Anurag Sharma’s victory is considered almost certain as he is the only candidate who has filed nomination papers for the lone Rajya Sabha seat.
Also read: Congress surprises with new face for Himachal RS seat
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