Rajya Sabha polls: Congress to vote for R.K. Anand in Haryana

The Congress on Friday said it will vote for noted lawyer R.K. Anand, who is contesting against BJP-backed Independent and media magnate Subhash Chandra, in the Rajya Sabha election in Haryana on Saturday.

In Haryana, Union Minister Birender Singh is sure to win one seat, while two Independents, the Indian National Lok Dal-backed Supreme Court advocate Anand and BJP-supported media baron Subhash Chandra, are in the fray for the second seat.

Chandra is chairman of India's TV channel network Zee Media. Anand drafted Indira Gandhi's will, which was later given to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after her death. Anand's services were later engaged by Rajiv Gandhi to settle probate of the will.

Anand was also elected as a member of Parliament to the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand in March 2000, during the NDA government.

He sought Congress support and expressed faith in the party leadership. He was present on Friday at the Congress meeting here which was attended by party legislators from Haryana like former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhry and state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar.

"Anand came and sought our support. He expressed faith in the leadership of Congress president (Sonia Gandhi), Congress vice-president (Rahul Gandhi) and party policies," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told the media.

"He said he will support the Congress both inside the Rajya Sabha and outside. The CLP in Haryana met on Friday, and a one-line resolution was passed leaving the entire matter to Sonia Gandhi."

"After taking the totality of circumstances into account, it was felt that in order to defeat the BJP and to keep it at bay, it would be appropriate to support Anand in the Rajya Sabha elections tomorrow (Saturday)," Tewari added.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has 47 legislators in the 90-member assembly, INLD 19, Congress 17, Bahujan Samaj Party one, Shiromani Akali Dal one and five are Independents.

--IANS

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