Shimla, March 5 -- In a surprise move, the Congress on Thursday announced Kangra District Congress Committee president Anurag Sharma as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Himachal Pradesh.

Sharma, considered close to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is set to file his nomination later in the day following a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party. He has also served as the president of the Billing Paragliding Association.

The election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state will be held on March 16, following the completion of the term of BJP MP Indu Bala Goswami on April 9.

According to the election schedule, the last date for filing nominations is March 5, while scrutiny of nominations will take pla...