Seven Samajwadi Party candidates, including Amar Singh who returned to party after six-year suspension, former Union minister Beni Prasad Verma who quit the Congress and rejoined the SP earlier this month and Lucknow-based realtor Sanjay Seth, filed their nomination papers Wednesday for the biennial elections to Rajya Sabha next month. The party, however, made a change in the list of candidates declared last week, dropping sitting RS member Arvind Singh to accommodate former BSP MP Surendra Nagar. The other candidates who filed the nomination are sitting RS member Vishambhar Prasad Nishad, former Allahabad MP Rewati Raman Singh and former Legislative Council chairperson Sukhram Singh Yadav. [related-post] The candidates filed the nomination papers at Central Hall of Vidhan Sabha complex in presence of SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and party state in-charge Shivpal Singh Yadav. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was in Bhadohi on an official visit, and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav were conspicuous by their absence. After filing the nomination, Amar Singh, who was accompanied by family members, expressed gratitude to Mulayam and said he will “use the opportunity to strengthen the party”. Verma reiterated that he will work to ensure that Akhilesh gets a repeat term as chief minister in 2017. Uttar Pradesh goes to Assembly polls early next year. While Amar Singh was in political wilderness for six years following his expulsion from SP in 2010 on charges of anti-party activities, Verma recently returned to the party fold after quitting Congress where he was party’s working committee member. Among other candidates, Sanjay Seth is the managing director of Lucknow-based realty group Shalimar Corp Limited. Akhilesh had thrice recommended his name for nomination as MLC last year, but Governor Ram Naik rejected his name every time on the ground that he did not fit in any of the categories for nomination. Sending back Seth’s file, the Governor had also sought details about Income Tax raids on Shalimar Corp offices. “It is a normal search procedure for any company,” Seth had said soon after he was nominated to the Upper House by SP. Meanwhile, in a meeting held late Tuesday night, the party decided not to give a repeat ticket to Arvind Singh, who is retiring from RS, and replaced him with Surendra Nagar. Nagar was elected to Lok Sabha in 2009 as BSP nominee but had joined SP during 2014 general elections. Sources said the party may soon recommend Arvind Singh’s name to Raj Bhawan for nomination as MLC. The support of 37 MLAs is needed for a candidate’s entry into the Rajya Sabha. As per the existing strength of different parties in the 403-member state Assembly, SP with 229 MLAs would be able to get six nominees elected to the Upper House and will need support of 30 MLAs from other parties to see its seventh candidate through. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) can send two candidates and the BJP one. Congress, with 29 MLAs, is also looking for support from other parties to send one candidate to RS. Meanwhile, Eight SP candidates for the UP Legislative Council elections - Kamlesh Pathak, Ranvijay Singh, Shatrudra Prakash, Ram Sundar Das Nishad, Jagjivan Prasad, Balram Yadav, Yashwant Singh and Bukkal Nawab —- also filed their nomination papers Wednesday. Balram Yadav, Yashwant Singh and Bukkal Nawab are sitting MLCs. Earlier, the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, in a meeting with Mulayam in Lucknow last week, had raised objection over SP not sending any Muslim to Rajya Sabha. He had also asked the SP chief to replace Bukkal Nawab saying the Muslim candidate “has no identity and following in the community. Nobody takes him seriously”. Bukhari had also said that by not naming a Muslim in the Rajya Sabha list, SP will send adverse message in the minority community. The notifications for polls to 11 RS seats and 13 MLC seats was issued on May 24. the last date for filing nominations is May 31. While polling for MLC elections is scheduled for June 10, the elections for filling the RS vacancies will take place on June 11.
