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The Congress has brought to an end speculation over its Rajya Sabha nominations. It announced Sanjay Singh, member of Parliament from Sultanpur, UP, as its candidate from Assam. A disgruntled Singh had been on the verge of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Reportedly, the announcement led to deep resentment among Congressmen in Assam, as yet another “outsider” was foisted.
Congress insiders say the party’s move was prompted to secure Rahul Gandhi’s Amethi seat. Aam Aadmi Party’s Kumar Vishwas has already made public his intent to contest from Amethi. As Sanjay Singh has considerable clout in the region bordering Amethi, the Congress was keen to placate him.
There had been speculation the BJP would field Sanjay Singh against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. “Every vote counts this time and the party could not risk endangering the Gandhi bastion,” said a Congress leader. Sanjay Singh was therefore given a Rajya Sabha ticket.
Significantly, Gandhi had in his latest television interview made specific mention of the North East and Assam and of feeling the “unfairness in the system.” The Congress, it appears chose to ignore the feelings and sentiments of the locals from the state and decided on fielding Sanjay Singh.
Assam PCC chief Bhubaneswar Kalita who was re-nominated for a fourth time to the Upper House speaking to Business Standard confirmed that Opposition party All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had at the last moment decided on fielding a candidate against the Congress. Kalita added, “Of the remaining two other seats, one will go to Congress ally Bodo Peoples Front ( the Congress will not contest it) and the other to Sanjay Singh.”
Officially the Congress rejected these suggestions with party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi stating, “It is also speculation.”
The Congress has also named Union minister Kumari Selja as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Haryana, putting to rest speculation on whether former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit would be given a ticket from there. The state unit was reportedly not keen on giving a ticket to an outsider with Assembly polls next year.
In Haryana, Selja's exit is being interpreted both as a setback for her, and a shot in the arm for the Chief Minister. Selja was a public and bitter critic of the CM, who belongs to the Jat community. The Dalits of Haryana have been the target of several upper caste attacks and the CM is seen to have done nothing to stop these attacks. It is possible that he facilitated Selja's exit from Haryana in a bid to get a thorn out of his flesh. However, overall Selja will gain because she was not sure of winning even her own reserved seat and will now get an unbroken five year stint in the Upper House.
