Haryana Rajya Sabha race peaks as BJP’s State vice-president enters fray as Independent

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Haryana unit vice-president, Satish Nandal, entered the Rajya Sabha fray from the State as an Independent on Thursday, the last date for filing nominations, adding an element of uncertainty to the poll outcome despite both the BJP and the Congress having the requisite numbers.

The move is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to retain both the Upper House berths falling vacant on April 9 currently held by its leaders Kiran Choudhry and Ram Chander Jangra. Of the five Rajya Sabha seats from the State’s quota, none is held by the Congress.