India, March 5 -- In a surprise move, the Congress on Thursday fielded its Kangra district president, Anurag Sharma, as the party's candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Himachal Pradesh.

Sharma, a confidant of chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and former president of the Billing Paragliding Association, is set to file his nomination on Thursday following the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting.

The election, scheduled on March 16, is being held to fill the vacancy created by BJP MP Indu Bala Goswami, whose term expires on April 9. ,Sharma's nomination marks a significant shift in the race, as he emerged as a wildcard choice over heavyweights such as former Union minister Anand Sharma, state unit chief Pratibha ...