Rajya Sabha poll: Congress rebel and BJP leader Harsh Mahajan files nomination

Himachalscape bureau Published: February 15, 2024 | Updated: February 15, 2024 3 minutes read

Harsh Mahajan filing nomination along with Leader of opposition JairamThakur, Party president Rajeev Bindal, Former president Suresh Kashyap and other senior leaders senior party leaders

Shimla, Feb 15,

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In a surprising move, Former Congress Legislator and BJP leader from Chamba Harsh Mahajan moved nomination papers on the BJP ticket from Himachal Pradesh on Thursday against former RS member and Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the race to one RS seat going vacant ( after retirement of BJP President JP Nadda ) next month.

Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, had provided some fillers yesterday while speaking to the media, stating that the party may not prefer the uncontested polling of the RS seat and is contemplating entering the electoral fray.

On Thursday morning BJP Legislators party meeting was held in the Opposition lobby informing its members of assembly that party high command has decided to give candidate and not allow to make the Congress party candidate elected unopposed.

Looked upon as a psychological game plan of the rightist party, observers stated that even though in the 68-member assembly Congress has a majority with 40 MLAs viz-a-viz to BJP which has 25, infighting of the grand old party is wide open in the public domain. Speculating defection they suspect that BJP may get the numbers required to win this contest.

Insiders point that Mahajan reportedly maybe in touch with eight Congress MLAs and three Independents has moved nomination papers on the last date of filling this morning before the assembly session.

Noteworthy that Mahajan was among three Congress former MLAs who joined the BJP in last three years and he has strong influence on the Congress party Legislators belonging to former chief minister Virbhadra Singh camp. About half dozen MLAs belonging to Virbhadra Singh camp are disgruntled with current Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government. Mahajan despite being in BJP is wielding strong influence on many Congress workers including Shimla, Kangra and Hamirpur district.

Political analysts feel that Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has to face this litmus test by winning this contest before LS polls. He has to ensure victory of Rajyasabha candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, besides also saving the image and stability of his government. Defection after just one year of government may dent his political accumen beyond repair. Moreover it a open fact about the Modi government; has repeatedly toppled Congress Governments and Chief minister in recent years.

Mahajan, who had remained the working president of the Congress party, quit little before the assembly polls in 2022 to join BJP. Mahajan, considered economically sound, has remained a Congress MLA from Chamba Assembly Constituency three times, winning consecutively in 1993, 1998, and 2003. Later in 2023, he had been elected to the BJP state core group.

On a chilly morning at this capital the State Politics has heat up with the BJP move. Though on the other hand this move of Saffron side is being looked upon by the Congress party as a opportunity to manage the house in order before they would have faced a debacle in the upcoming LS poll.

BJP critics stated that the rightist party’s move to emerge stronger before 2024 Lok sabha polls could backfire if it loses this contest. They state that Congress party would need 35 votes to ensure the victory in the RS poll as polling would be held on February 27 in the state.

On Wednesday, the Congress party had announced Abhishek Manu Singhvi as their official candidate for the poll. Noteworthy that elections to 56 Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled across 15 states, of which Himachal Pradesh is one.

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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.

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