Shimla, March 5 -- The path to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh appears almost certain for Congress nominee Anurag Sharma after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chose not to field a candidate for the lone seat from the state, effectively clearing the way for his unopposed election.
The deadline for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha election March 5 has ended and the BJP's decision to stay out of the contest has ended speculation of a direct electoral contest between the two major parties.
With the Congress holding a comfortable majority in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Sharma was already considered the frontrunner, but the absence of a BJP candidate has virtually ensured his entry to the Upper House.
Party sources sa...