Shimla: Senior Congress leader Viplove Thakur was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh.

Opposition BJP didn’t field its candidate against Thakur. The election for the seat was scheduled February 7.

Viplove Thakur has earlier as well represent state in Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012 and was elected to the Vidhan Sabha three times in the past in 1985, 1993 and 1998. She was minister for ayurveda in the Virbhadra Singh government from 1993 to 1998.

She also met Vidhan Sabha speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail at Vidhan Sabha. Later speaking to the media at Vidhan Sabha premises, Viplove Thakur thanked party high-command and state leaders.

Thakur assured to raise the issues related to the state in the Rajya Sabha. She said that generation of new employment avenues are the need of the hour and now Govt will have to work in this regard.

Reacting to the media query of factionalism within the state party set up, Viplove rejected it and stated that party was united for the development of the state and party.