S Gopal Puri
SHIMLA – In a move that has recalibrated the political chessboard of Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party has nominated Anurag Sharma as its candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state. While the official party line projects him as a grassroots worker finally getting recognition, the decision is also being interpreted as a strategic political move aimed at managing the aftershocks of the 2024 political crisis.
The nomination of Sharma, the current president of the Kangra District Congress Committee (DCC), surprised many political observers. Senior leaders such as former Union minister Anand Sharma, state Congress chief Pratibha Singh and several experienced leaders close to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu were widely believed to be in contention for the seat. By opting for a district-level organisational leader instead of established heavyweights, the Congress leadership appears to have signalled a shift toward rewarding organisational work and strengthening regional political equations.
The Sudhir Sharma shadow
One of the most discussed aspects of Anurag Sharma’s rise is his past political association with Sudhir Sharma, once a powerful Congress leader in Kangra who later rebelled against the party.
Anurag Sharma was earlier considered politically close to Sudhir Sharma and was seen as one of his organisational supporters in the district. However, the relationship between the two is believed to have changed significantly over the past few years as political equations within the Congress shifted.
After the dramatic developments of 2024—when Sudhir Sharma was among the Congress legislators who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election and later moved to the BJP—the political divide between him and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu became stark. In this context, Anurag Sharma’s elevation is being viewed by some political observers as part of a larger startegy by the Congress CM Sukhu to give a message to Sudhir Sharma that his former close aides are now Sukhu’s trusted men and also to reassert party’s organisational influence in Kangra.
The Kangra factor
Kangra district remains the most politically significant region in Himachal Pradesh, with 15 of the state’s 68 Assembly constituencies located here. Any party hoping to dominate the state’s political landscape must maintain a strong organisational presence in the district.
By nominating a leader from Bir in the Baijnath constituency, the Congress appears to be reinforcing its political outreach in Kangra while simultaneously sending a message to party workers that grassroots organisational roles can lead to national-level opportunities.
Business background and public profile
Apart from politics, Anurag Sharma is also known for his business interests. According to details available in his election affidavit, he has been working as a government contractor since 2003. Records indicate that he secured public works contracts worth around ₹16 crore in Kangra between September 2024 and February 2026.
He has also been associated with the adventure tourism sector as president of the Billing Paragliding Association, which oversees activities at Bir-Billing—one of the world’s most recognised paragliding destinations.
A calculated political move
With the Congress enjoying a comfortable majority in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly and the BJP choosing not to field a candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat, Anurag Sharma’s election to Parliament appears almost certain.
Whether the decision ultimately proves to be a reward for organisational loyalty, a step toward strengthening Kangra’s representation, or a calculated political move to reshape regional equations will become clearer in the months ahead. For now, Sharma’s rise from district-level politics to the national stage marks a significant moment in Himachal Pradesh’s evolving political landscape.
