Shimla: Veteran BJP leader Shanta Kumar today filed his papers for the lone Rajya Sabha seat today.
Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP state president Jai Ram Thakur, Satya Pal Jain and Om Prakash Dhankar, in charge and co- in charge of party affairs besides many ministers accompanied Shanta Kumar for filing of his papers.
With the Congress having decided not to filed a candidate, Kumar will be elected unopposed.
Speaking to the media after filing his papers, he said that he would not only represent BJP but the entire state of Himachal in the Rajya sabha by rising above party lines.
The decision regarding sending Shanta Kumar to Rajya sabha was taken in November last year and the state election committee and Central election committee of the party only made the final announcement.
Kumar is a veteran in state and national politics. He was first elected to the Vidhan Sabha in 1972 and became chief minister in 1977, a position he held again in 1990.
He was elected to Vidhan Sabha in 1972, 1977, 1982 and 1990 and won Lok sabha elections in 1989, 1998 and 1999 and also served as cabinet minister in Vajpayee government from October 1999 to May 2003.
Shanta Kumar would be third leader from Himachal to become member of Vidhan sabha, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Earlier Congress leader Chandresh Kumari and senior BJP leader Maheshwar singh had earned this distinction.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
