CONG CONSIDERS ANAND SHARMA FOR RS BERTH FROM RAJASTHAN
NEW DELHI: Former Union minister and one of the leaders part of the G-23 grouping in the party, Anand Sharma is among those being actively considered for a Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan, where the Congress is confident of bagging at least two seats, people familiar with the matter said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will decide the final list of party nominees for the Upper House.
A former Union minister, Sharma had served as deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha for a long time. He was elected to the Upper House four times.
“Sharma might be considered for another term as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi wants an inclusive approach ahead of the key battle of 2024 polls,” a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.
Sharma and former Rajya Sabha leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad – another G-23 leader – were included in the Political Affairs Group which the party had announced setting up during its Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) earlier this month.
The Group will play an advisory role and assist the Congress president on various issues.
While former Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who recently quit the party, had been a vocal opponent of the Congress leadership and even held a press conference to question its decision-making process, Sharma has always shown restraint in public and followed the party line. A second senior party leader said both Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel have asked Gandhi to elect Rajya Sabha candidates from their states.