New Delhi: Senior BJP leader from Kerala V Muraleesharan was elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed on Thursday.
Muraleedharan, the BJP national executive member and former president of the party's Kerala unit, was elected to the upper house of the Parliament from Maharashtra. Though there were four candidates for the three seats that the BJP deserved, one withdrew from the contest making it a cakewalk for Muraleedharan.
Muraleedharan's entry to Rajya Sabha is a booster to the BJP as it comes at a time when the party is set to face the crucial Chengannur assembly by-election.
Of the six Rajya Sabha seats that fell vacant in Maharashtra, BJP won three and Siva Sena, Congress and NCP won one each.
Though State Women's Commission chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar had also filed nomination as BJP candidate, she withdrew it on Thursday, the last date to do so.
Besides Muraleedharan, union minister Prakash Javadekar, Maharashtra former chief minister Narayan Rane also were elected from the BJP. Veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar (Congress), Anil Desai ( Siva Sena) and Vandana Chavan (NCP) were the other winners.
