Jaya Bachchan files nominations for RS bypolls

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Lucknow, June 1: Cine star and former Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan today filed nominations for the Rajya Sabha by-elections due on June 15.

Another Samajwadi Party candidate Amir Alam Khan also filed nominations for the RS bypolls. Khan is a former MP from Kairana in Muzzafarnagar district of West UP.

Ms Bachchan had to resign her RS seat following directives of the Election Commission since she was chairperson of the UP Film Development Council (UPFDC) -- an office of profit. Her resignation had led to a political furore with SP and BJP mounting pressure on Congress in Lok Sabha. Following the controversy, AICC president Sonia Gandhi resigned from her Lok Sabha seat and as chairperson of the National Advisory Council (NAC). She later got re-elected from Rae Bareli.

While Ms Bachchan had on Thursday last resigned from he chairpersonship of UPFDC, SP general secretary and chairman of UP Development Council Amar Singh said Ms Bachachan would not reclaim the post again.

Ms Bachachan and Mr Khan filed two sets of nominations each for the bypoll in the presence of Chief Minister and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh and Sahara Group chief Subroto Roy. Several ministers of the state government were also present.

There are 10 proposers each in the two sets of nominations filed by the two candidates.

Ms Bachchan refused to entertain queries from the reporters.

Two RS seats of UP quota were lying vacant after the resignation of Ms Bachchan and ADAG chairman Anil Ambani -- an Independent member.

The joint opposition is yet undecided on fielding a consensus candidate to wrest the seat.

If the Opposition fails in a consensus, the ruling dispensation is likely to win both the seats.

The nominations could be filed till June 5 while scrutiny of papers would be on June 6. Candidates can withdraw their nominations till June 8.

If required, elections would be held on June 15 and the results announced the same day.

Meanwhile, the EC had rejected twice the recommendation of assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey to nominate newly appointed principal secretary A N Mittal as a returning officer for the RS bypolls.

The EC has nominated the other principal secretary Mr Pandey as the RO for the elections against the wishes of the Speaker and the state government.

In perhaps a first ever in the history of UP, Mr Mittal, an officer of the judicial cadre, was made the second principal secretary of the assembly last week.

According to the present 404 member strength of the state assembly, the ruling Samajwadi Party has 195 members and its allies RLD-15, CPI(M)-2, Loktrantrik Congress-2, unattached-5 and Independents-16.

The opposition comprises of BJP- 83, BSP-67, Congress-16, Hindu Mahasabha-1 and Akhil Bharatiya Congress-1. One nominated member has no voting rights in the RS elections.

UNI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X