SHIMLA: With the deadline for filing nominations drawing close, the ruling Congress in Himachal Pradesh is set to announce its candidate for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat in the next few days.
The decision is expected after a meeting of Congress legislators chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and is likely to announce a name that enjoys support of the Gandhis.
Scarred by the political upheaval during the last Rajya Sabha election in February 2025—when the party’s official candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost in a tied contest to BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan—the Sukhu government is moving with extreme caution this time.
The seat has fallen vacant following the completion of the term of BJP MP Indu Goswami. Learning from past mistakes, the Congress has already made it clear that the new nominee will be a Himachali leader, ruling out any “outsider” choice, though names of Rajni Patil is also doing rounds.
Lessons from a Near-Split
The last Rajya Sabha election proved costly for the Congress, triggering a rebellion by six MLAs, including three Independents, that pushed the Sukhu government to the brink.
The episode underlined the dangers of internal dissension and forced the party to recalibrate its strategy.
With Himachal Pradesh having only four Lok Sabha seats and three Rajya Sabha seats, voices within the party have grown stronger that the limited parliamentary representation must go exclusively to leaders rooted in the state.
This argument had found resonance in Himbumail during the previous election, when discontent over the choice of candidate spilled into open revolt.
Names in the Fray, No Consensus Yet
While no formal consensus has emerged so far, several names are doing the rounds. These include former Union minister and ex-MP Anand Sharma, former Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Singh, and senior party leaders such as Kaul Singh Thakur and Asha Kumari and Sunil Bittu, CM’s own advisor from Hamirpur.
Women candidates are also strongly being proposed as Indu Goswami, the outgoing BJP MP was a woman and hails from Kangra, the largest district of the state.
Sources indicate that Pratibha Singh is perceived to be enjoying support from Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, giving her an edge in internal calculations.
However, the names of Anand Sharma and Kaul Singh Thakur are reportedly not finding favour with sections of the party leadership due to their perceived distance from the organisation during its difficult phase in the state.
Have the names of Anand Sharma and Kaul Singh Thakur have figured in good books of Gandhis?
As far as Anand Sharma is concerned he had obeyed the dictate of Party highcommand by contesting the last Lok Sabha elections from Kangra. But Will he be accepted by the Agnihotri- Vikramaditya camp?
Surprise Candidate Possible
The Congress high command, meanwhile, is keeping its cards close to its chest. Party insiders suggest that a consensus candidate—or even a relatively younger or lesser-known leader—could emerge as a surprise pick to keep all factions together and avoid fresh turbulence.
There is also speculation that the party may look towards the Kangra region while finalising the nominee, though nothing has been confirmed so far.
With the clock ticking, clarity is expected within the next couple of days as the Congress attempts to strike a delicate balance between winnability, regional representation, and internal unity—an equation it can ill afford to get wrong this time.
On the other hand, BJP is likely to formulate its strategy only after Congress announces its candidate as number is not its side.
All things considered, it is certain that Congress will finalise a Himachali name for the Seat, but then all proposals fall flat when Party High Command makes its choice.
