Surprise Choice Anurag Sharma Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Himachal; Congress Showcases Unity After Last Year’s Setback
Shimla: Congress leader Anurag Sharma was on Monday unanimously elected to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh, becoming the only Congress representative from the state in the Upper House of Parliament.
After getting election certificate from Vidhan Sabha, Sharma was felicitated at a function held at Rajiv Bhawan in Shimla in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Cabinet ministers, MLAs and party workers.
However, senior Congress leaders including Anand Sharma and former state Congress president Pratibha Singh were conspicuous by their absence from the felicitation ceremony.
With Sharma’s election, he becomes the lone Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh.
Out of the state’s seven MPs in Parliament — three in the Rajya Sabha and four in the Lok Sabha — the remaining six belong to the BJP, highlighting the saffron party’s dominance in representing the hill state at the national level.
Sharma’s selection by the Congress high command came as a surprise, as the party chose a relatively new face, signalling what many see as a generational shift within the state unit.
Party insiders say the move reflects the leadership’s attempt to bring forward younger leaders while sidelining several old power centres.
The seat had fallen vacant after the retirement of BJP leader Indu Goswami. By fielding a candidate from Kangra — the largest district of Himachal Pradesh both in terms of population and political representation — the Congress leadership sought to send a political message of giving due representation to the region.
Interestingly, the BJP chose not to field a candidate, paving the way for Sharma’s unopposed election.
All 40 Congress MLAs backed his nomination in a show of unity, especially after the bitter experience during the 2024 Rajya Sabha election when senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost in a dramatic contest to BJP leader Harsh Mahajan following cross-voting by Congress legislators and support from three Independents.
That episode had triggered a major political crisis for the Sukhu government, though it ultimately survived the turmoil.
The leadership appears to have drawn lessons from the incident, stressing unity and discipline within the party ranks.
Addressing the felicitation ceremony, Sharma thanked the party leadership and legislators for their support.
“I will work for the people of Himachal Pradesh and raise in Parliament the issues that impact the state. I will continue to serve with utmost sincerity and commitment,” he said.
His election has been welcomed by younger party workers and aspirants, who see his elevation as a sign that the Congress leadership is willing to give opportunities to new faces within the organisation.
