MP bypolls: 14 nominees submit papers

Bhopal, Feb 17 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Sports Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia and MP Rampal Singh's wife Shashiprabha were among 14 candidates who submitted their nomination papers today for bypolls to two Lok Sabha constituencies and one Assembly seat in the state, official sources said.

Ten sets of papers were submitted for Gwalior, one for Sidhi and three for Udaypura Assembly seat.

Ms Scindia (Bharatiya Janata Party), Jawahar Singh, Kedar and Lakhan Singh (all Bahujan Samaj Party), Ramshri Baghel (Rashtriya Samanta Dal), Sanjay Shiromani, Anand Singh Kushwaha 'Ramayani', Raja Ram, Atar Singh and Prabhu (all independents) submitted their papers for Gwalior.

Gondwana Ganatantra Party President Heera Singh Markam submitted his papers for Sidhi (ST).

Ms Shashiprabha Singh (BJP), R S Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and Ms Nisha Patel (RSD) submitted their papers for Udaypura.

Candidates who submitted papers earlier were Sidhi -- Patiraj Singh (SP), Mabban Singh and Anante Singh (both BSP); Gwalior -- Independent Manoj Sharma.

The hustings were necessitated in Sidhi and Gwalior as MPs Chandrapratap Singh (BJP) and Ramsewak Singh Gujjar were expelled from Parliament in the cash-for-query scam. Udaypura MLA Rampal Singh, who was the Public Health Engineering Minister, put in his papers after emerging victorious in the Vidisha Lok Sabha bypoll.

February 19 is the last date for submitting nomination papers, a process that got underway on February 12. Scrutiny will take place the following day and papers may be withdrawn until February 22. Polling will take place on March 8 and counting is scheduled for March 11.

UNI