Shimla, March 16 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee for the election to the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, falling vacant next month, filed nomination papers Tuesday.

'Vimla Kashyap today (Tuesday) filed her papers for the Rajya Sabha election,' state BJP chief Khimi Ram told reporters.

Kashyap, 68, is the first women the BJP has fielded for a Rajya Sabha seat from the state. Her election seems a certainty as the BJP has 43 legislators in the 68-member assembly and the opposition Congress has decided not to field a candidate. The seat was held by union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, whose term ends April 2.

Kashyap has been active in the state politics for more than three decades. She has served as state president of the party's woman wing thrice.

Polling for the seat, if necessary, will be held March 26.