Nadda all set for Rajya Sabha,Cong also to contest

State BJP president Satpal Satti who left for Delhi after the Assembly session said the decision of the candidate has been left up to the party High Command. “ The party will finalise the name tomorrow (Thursday). It’s more or less known that BJP president Nitin Gadkari will have the final word”,he responded when asked about Nadda’s name.

The seat will fall vacant after former PCC chief Viplove Thakur completes his Rajya Sabha term. The Congress has decided to contest the seat though it’s known that the party doesn’t have the numbers. The party has 23 MLAs in the House while BJP’s strength,beside the three Independents,is 47.

Reliable sources said the Congress Legislature Party meeting scheduled for 10 am on Thursday,will finalise the name of its candidate. A Delhi-based industrialist L R Sharma,who hails from Mandi,is being mentioned by some party leaders although a few say that the outgoing MP Viplove Thakur could be fielded again. “ We are going to contest the seat though the Congress is aware of its strength. No name has been discussed. We will discuss and announce it soon”,said CLP Leader Vidya Stokes.

BJP insiders said Nadda ,who is set to arrive here on March 16 ,will file his nominations on the last day for filing of nominations.

Nadda,a sitting MLA from Bilaspur,was a contender for state party president’s post in 2010 but Chief Minister Prem Kumar dhumal had then favoured Khimi Ram. A few months later,however, Nadda was inducted as a general secretary by Nitin Gadkari in his national team and was made incharge of Chhattisgarh . He was also incharge of the party elections in Punjab.

Nadda was recently sent to Shimla by Gadkari to resolve the crisis triggered by the resignation of some party MLAs including Maheshwar Singh,a former MP ,who has now formed the Himachal Lokhit Party.