Chandigarh, March 6 -- The entry of BJP backed candidate, Satish Nandal for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election for two seats from Haryana will put the unity and integrity of 37 Congress MLAs under scrutiny while putting the leadership of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda to a critical test in what could turn out to be a closely watched contest.

Three candidates - Sanjay Bhatia of the BJP, Karamvir Singh Boudh of the Congress and Satish Nandal as an independent - filed their nominations on Thursday, the last date for filing nominations, for the two Upper House berths that will fall vacant on April 9 following the end of the terms of BJP MPs, Ram Chander Jangra and Kiran Choudhry.

Unless Nandal withdraws his nom...