Ashes of ex-PM Chandra Shekhar immersed in Ganga

Varanasi, Aug 12 (UNI) The ashes of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar was immersed in the Ganga river here today.

The former PM's two sons -- Pankaj Shekhar and Neeraj Shekhar -- after immersing part of the ashes at the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, reached Varanasi by road.

In Allahabad, a large number of people including Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Satya Prakash Malviya, Congress MLA Anugrah Narain Singh, Allahabad Mayor Chaudhary Jitendra Nath Singh garlanded the photo of the former prime minister and paid their last tributes at the Circuit House here.

Later, the urn was taken in a open flower decked vehicle to Kilaghat and immersed in the holy water of Sangam with rituals.

Later, they left for the Rajendra Prasad Ghat from where the former PM's two sons, other relatives and Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) leaders embarked on a motorboat with the urn containing the departed leader's ashes.

The ashes were immersed in the Ganga river near the 'Samadhi' of Bhagwan Ram Avdhoot Ram.

The remaining ashes will now be immersed in the confluence of Ganga and Saryu rivers near Chandra Shekhar's native district of Ballia in East Uttar Pradesh.

Later, interacting with newspersons, the former PM's elder son Pankaj Shekhar said ''all efforts will be made to preserve the political legacy of my father by keeping his party SJP infact.'' When asked about the political successor to the former PM, he remained non-commital. ''Decision on who will contest the bypoll from Balia parliamentary constituency will be made soon.'' Keeping mum over the prospects of sibling Neeraj being nominated the SJP candidate for the bypoll, Mr Pankaj said they will go for the most suitable candidate. He also claimed the Samajwadi Party will support the SJP candidate in the bypoll.

''We want all parties to support our party candidate for preserving the political legacy of our father. The SP will certainly support our candidate in the bypoll.'' The bypoll to the Balia parliamentary seat, which fell vacant following Chandra Shekhar's demise on July eight last, has been postponed due to floods in East UP UNI