Bhardwaj elected to Rajya Sabha unopposed

Chandigarh, Mar 20 (UNI) Union Law Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj was declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana today as the deadline for withdrawal of candidature ended.

The seat would fall vacant on the retirement of sitting member Faquir Chand from Rajya Sabha.

The election of Mr Bhardwaj to Rajya Sabha became certain on the day of scrutiny of nomination papers on March 18 itself when his papers were found in order that day.

Mr Bhardwaj had filed his nomination papers as a Congress candidate to fill the lone seat from Haryana in the Upper House in the March 28 election. No other candidate had contested the election.

Vidhan Sabha Secretary Sumit Kumar, who is returning officer for the election, announced that Mr Bhardwaj had been elected ''uncontested'' to the Rajya Sabha after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations came to close at 1500 hours.

Mr Bhardwaj was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1982 and later re-elected to the Upper House in 1988, 1994 and 2000. He became Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in 1984 before shifting to Ministry of Planning and Programme Implementation with independent charge in 1991.

He was again appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs in 1992 and 2004.

A lawyer by profession, Mr Bhardwaj had also worked in different capacities and published few books.

Widely toured, Mr Bhardwaj had also participated in law conference and seminars abroad.

UNI VKJ RP KN1542