Nomination papers of Gujral, Ram Prakash found in order

Chandigarh, Mar 20 (UNI) The nomination papers of Mr Naresh Gujral, son of former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, and Haryana Congress Working President Ram Prakash for the by-election to two Rajya Sabha seats from Punjab and Haryana respectively were found in order during scrutiny today.

Mr Gujral is the SAD-BJP alliance candidate for the by-election to fill the lone seat from Punjab, which fell vacant due to the death of senior Congress leader Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder.

Dr Prakash is the Congress nominee for the Rajya Sabha seat in Haryana which fell vacant following the death of Indian National Lok Dal leader Sumitra Mahajan.

The last day for withdrawal of candidates is March 22. The polling is scheduled on March 29.

Since no other candidate is contesting the by-election either from Punjab or Haryana, the election of Mr Gujral and Dr Prakash to the Upper House has become certain.

Mr Gujral, who is a Political Affairs Committee member of the SAD, had unsuccesfully contested the last Lok Sabha elections from Jalandhar.

Dr Prakash, a retired professor of the Punjab university, was appointed Haryana Congress working President after the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government assumed office two years ago.

UNI