Shanta files nomination papers for Rajya Sabha

Shimla, Mar 14 (UNI) Veteran BJP leader and former union minister Shanta Kumar today filed his nominations for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh today.

Maximum permissible number of four nomination papers were filed supporting his candidature and 40 legislators, including Chief Minister P K Dhumal, Speaker Tulsi Ram, state BJP chief Jai Ram Thakur and all the ministers proposed his name.

The lone BSP member Sanjay Chowdhary and Independent member Hira Lal were also among the legislators to propose his name.

Satya Pal Jain and Om Prakash Dhankar, in-charge and co-in-charge of Party affairs for Himachal and Regional BJP secretary Manohar Lal were also present while filing of the nomination papers.

Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr Kumar thanked the party high command for expressing faith in him and said besides the BJP members, the Congress had also extended support to him by deciding not to field any candidate.

He also thanked Mr Dhumal and the Party MLAs for their good wishes and support and said he would not only represent the BJP but the entire state in the Rajya Sabha by rising above Party lines.

The former union minister said even as a cabinet minister in the Vajpayee Government, he gave liberal assistance to the state Government headed by Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Mass leader, Mr Kumar had been pipped to the post of chief minister this time by Mr Dhumal, while he has also been asked to become active at national level politics.

The decision regarding sending Mr Kumar to the Rajya Sabha was taken in November last year and the state election committee and Central election committee of the party made the formal final announcement.

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