Senior Congress leaders Rajeev Shukla and Ranjeet Ranjan have been made the Congress candidates for Rajya Sabha elections from Chhattisgarh.

Congress National President Sonia Gandhi has approved the candidature of Rajeev Shukla and Ranjeet Ranjan to Rajya Sabha elections from Chhattisgarh. In this regard, In-charge General Secretary of Central Election Committee of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Mukul Wasnik has issued an order on Sunday late evening.

Rajeev Shukla hails from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh while Ranjeet Ranjan, wife of Pappu Yadav, belongs to Bihar.

To the utter dismay of local Congress leaders the names of candidates from outside states were announced. Earlier the names of few congress leaders close to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel were doing rounds. The Congress leaders in in the state expected one seat to the local candidate but the high command has other designs. This has proved the BJP’s claim that no local leaders will be sent to the upper house from Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader commented that upper house is for people with experience and proficiency. The Congress may not have found a suitable candidate from Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, not a single candidate has filled nomination so far for the elections of two Rajya Sabha members in Chhattisgarh.

Speaking to The Hitavada, Returning Officer and Secretary of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dinesh Sharma said that not a single nomination has been received so far. The last date for filing nominations of Rajya Sabha polls is May 31. Scrutiny of nominations would be done on June 1. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is June 3.

Polling will be held on June 10 from 9 am to 4 pm, and the counting will be held on the same day at 5pm.

The term of office of Rajya Sabha members- Chhaya Verma and Ramvichar Netam elected from Chhattisgarh, is due to expire upon their retirement on June 29.

It may be noted that out of 90 members of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, 71 Indian National Congress MLAs, 14 MLAs from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 3 from the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and 2 MLA from Bahujan Samaj Party will exercise their franchise for the biennial election to the Rajya Sabha. Voting will be through ballot papers. The Congress party can win both Rajya Sabha seats. At present, sitting Rajya Sabha Member Chhaya Verma is from the Congress party while Rajya Sabha Member Ramvichar Netam is from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)