Selja set to enter Rajya Sabha from Haryana

Union Minister Kumari Selja is set to enter Rajya Sabha as the Congress nominee from Haryana where elections for two vacant seats is slated for February 7.
Selja filed her nomination as Congress contestant today with the election office here.
Besides Selja, Indian National Lok Dal's (INLD) Backward Classes cell chief Ram Kumar Kashyap too filed his papers for the two Rajya Sabha seats that are going to be vacant next month, an election office spokesman said here today.
Selja was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, among others while Kashyap was in the company of INLD MLA Abhay Singh Cahutala and other party MLAs.

Two vacancies were being caused due to retirement of Congress candidates Ram Prakash and Ishwar Singh early next month.
The Congress will lose one seat as the other member from the state set to enter the upper House is Kashyap.

Today was the last date of filing of nomination papers, an election office spokesman said, adding that, the last date for withdrawal is January 31. If the election is needed then it will take place on February 7, he said.
Selja, a Dalit leader, had represented Amabla Lok Sabha seat for the last two terms.
"I have been given the responsibility by the Congress high command which I will perform sincerely," Selja said, adding that, earlier as an MP she was limited to work for the betterment of her Ambala constituency but now by going to Rajya Sabha she will have an opportunity to serve the entire Haryana.

In the 90 member Haryana Assembly, the strength of Congress is 46, INLD 30, BJP four, BSP one, SAD one, Haryana Janhit Congress one and there are seven independents who all support Congress.