Anand Sharma elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Himacha Pradesh

Secretary of Himachal Pradesh’s Legislative Assembly Sunder Singh Verma congratulating newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma in Shimla on Monday. (PTI Photo)

Former union minister and senior Congress leader Anand Sharma was Monday elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed from Himachal Pradesh, his home state. Sharma was handed over the certificate about his election to the Upper House for the fourth time, a record third time from Himachal Pradesh.

Secretary Vidhan Sabha Sunder Singh Verma, who was the Returning Officer for the election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat, handed over the certificate to Sharma in the presence of Cabinet minister G S Bali, PCC president Sukhwinder Sukhu, Dalhousie MLA Asha Kumari, Chief Parliamentary secretary Sohan Lal, PCC general secretary Harbhajan Bhajji and former PCC spokesman Kuldeep Rathore.

Anand Sharma, who earlier resigned from his Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan, will replace BJP’s Bimla Kashyap — whose term will end early next month. Sharma was elected to the Rajya Sabha first time in 1984.

Talking to media after his election, Sharma said he was happy to return to the state and get elected unopposed. “I have served the state to best of my abilities even when I was a senior cabinet minister in the UPA-I and II, there is a new responsibility bestowed on me. You will see my voice making impact on state’s as well as country’s issues,” Sharma said.