Panaji (GOA): In an most unexpected move, the Congress party has decided to field party president Shantaram Naik as their candidate for the Rajya Sabha election to be held on July 21.

Naik is the current rajya sabha member of parliament and his term stands expired on July 28. The move comes two days after he was appointed as goa pradesh congress committee president.

After a long meeting, the Congress legislative party finally proposed shantaram naik name as their candidate to the party high command.

The high command approval is expected on Tuesday morning post which Naik will file his nomination papers before the returning officer.

Tuesday is the last day for filing nomination. Bjp led coalition candidate vinay tendulkar will also file his candidature on tuesday.

This is for the third time that Naik is contesting the Rajya sabha election. During his past two terms in 2005 and 2011 he got elected.

Congress has 16 MLAs in the 38 member State assembly at present.

When contacted, Kavalekar said that clp has recommended shantaram naik name to the high command for final decision.

“We have given our recommendation but the final decision would be of high command,” he said.

Team TNV