SP fields Braj Bhushan for RS by-election

Lucknow, Nov 30 (UNI) The ruling Samajwadi Party today fielded veteran socialist leader Braj Bhushan as the party candidate for by-elections to the Rajya Sabha seat from Uttar Pradesh, which fell vacant following the death of industrialist Lalit Suri.

Mr Bhushan filed his nomination papers to contest the polls and is set to be elected unopposed.

Returning officer and Principal Secretary (Assembly) R P Pandey here said that Mr Bhushan filed two sets of nominations duly signed by 10 MLAs in each set.

Mr Bhushan, a former Lok Sabha member, is a native of Siddharthnagar district and is associated with socialist movement since a long time.

Tomorrow is the last date of filing nominations, while on Saturday, the papers would be checked for its valadity. Candidates can withdraw their nominations till December 4 and if required elections would be held on December 11.

Independent RS member Mr Suri died of a cardiac arrest in London in October. The term of the seat expires on July 2010.

UNI MB ATI YA RS1423