Indu Goswami files papers for Rajya Sabha in low-key affair
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 13
BJP leader Indu Goswami today filed her nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha in a low-key affair as shadow of factionalism over her candidature was more than evident.
Indu Goswami (53), who was given the Rajya Sabha ticket despite the State Election Committee of the BJP recommending three other names, was accompanied by very few leaders and these were mainly women in large numbers, who bolstered her morale. Her selection for the Rajya Sabha is being viewed as a significant development which could lead to new permutation and combinations in the BJP in coming times.
Close to Dhumal
- Indu Goswami is considered close to former Chief Minister PK Dhumal as it is he who had appointed her chairperson of the State Commission for Women in his second term in 2012-17.
- Miffed for being ignored in party affairs, Indu Goswami had resigned as state Mahila Morcha president in July last year.
Though Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, state BJP president Rajiv Bindal, Speaker Vipin Parmar, ministers and legislators were present at the time of filing of nomination before Secretary of the Vidhan Sabha, the enthusiasm was missing as a mere formality was performed. The filing of the nomination had very few workers as compared to previous occasions.
The Congress with a strength of only 21 in a house of 68 has not put up a candidate for the Rajya Sabha election. The BJP has 44 legislators.
“I am grateful to both Central and state BJP for giving me this opportunity. They have honoured women of the state and it is a big thing that a simple BJP worker has been given an opportunity to represent the state in Parliament,” she said adorning a green Bushairi cap after filing her nomination.
Indu herself tried to play down the fact that her nomination has come from the Centre and the SEC did not forward her name. “It is not possible to get the Rajya Sabha nomination without the blessings of the state leadership. The Central leadership has done it with the recommendation of the state leadership,” she said while trying to show that all is well. She also thanked CM Thakur for giving her this opportunity.
“I have been a BJP worker for 36 years and have always tried to perform the responsibility entrusted to me to the best of my ability and will continue to do so in the future also,” she said. She added that she will raise all issues pertaining to the state in Parliament to protect the interest of the state and its people.
It is no secret in political circles that Indu is close to former Chief Minister PK Dhumal as it is he who had appointed her the chairperson of the State Commission for Women in his second term in 2012-17. In fact, being miffed for being ignored in party affairs, she had resigned as the state Mahila Morcha president in July last year.
She has been at the receiving end ever since she managed to get the Assembly ticket from Palampur in December 2017. With Shanta supporters opposing her candidature, she lost the election. Though she hails from Baijnath with that constituency being reserved for SC, she shifted to Palampur.
