Ind candidate's nomination rejected, others valid

Mumbai, Mar 18 (UNI) The nomination of Independent candidate Bharatlal Bhatia, who did not have the signatures of a proposer and seconder on his form, was rejected during the scrutiny of the papers for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections for six seats from Maharashtra.

The nominations of Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Rajiv Shukla (Cong), Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Vasant Chavan (NCP), former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi (Shiv Sena) and Prof Bal Apte (BJP) were found to be valid.

The last day of withdrawal of nomination papers is March 20.

Since six candidates are there for as many seats, all are set to be declared elected unopposed on March 20.

UNI JM GK VD SSC1445