EC rejects UP speaker's nominee as RS polls returning officer

Lucknow, May 26 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) today turned down the recommendation of Uttar Pradesh assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey nominating the newly-appointed principal secretary of the House, A N Mittal, as the returning officer for the June 15 Rajya Sabha polls in the state.

Mr Mittal had yesterday taken over as the second UP assembly principal secretary, the first being Mr Rajendra Prasad Pandey.

Official sources said the EC has appointed Mr R P Pandey as the returning officer for the elections.

In the last RS polls in UP on March 28 this year, Mr R P Pandey and chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had exchanged words. The appointment of Mr Mittal was made shortly thereafter by the state government.

Meanwhile, the RS poll process will start from May 29, when the nominations could be filed till June 5.

Scrutiny would be done on June 6, while nominations can be withdrawn on June 8. If deemed necessary, the RS polls would be held on June 15.

Two seats to the upper house of Parliament from UP had fallen vacant following the resignations of Samajwadi Party RS member Jaya Bachchan and Independent member and industrialist Anil Ambani.

UNI MB/VS RSC LR VV1938