Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha by-poll in Bihar in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The by-poll has been necessitated after Paswan’s cabinet colleague and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad gave up his seat upon his election to the Lok Sabha.

Paswan, who arrived here from New Delhi around noon, drove straight to the State headquarters of his party before heading towards the State Assembly premises.

Apart from Nitish Kumar, Union Minister of State for Home and State BJP chief Nityanand Rai accompanied Paswan to the Vidhan Sabha, where the Lok Janshakti Party President filed his nomination.

Paswan had not contested the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, leaving his pocket borough Hajipur for his younger brother Pashupati Kumar Paras, who retained the seat for the LJP. He was re-inducted in the Narendra Modi cabinet on May 30.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for his third consecutive term last year, resigned from the Upper House upon his election to the Lok Sabha from Patna Sahib seat.

The last date for filing of nominations for the Rajya Sabha by-polls, being held in three States, is June 25; and scrutiny will take place the following day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 28, while polling and counting of votes will be held on July 5.

‘A foregone conclusion’

The NDA in Bihar, comprising the BJP, the Janata Dal (United) and the LJP, has a comfortable majority in the State Assembly and Paswan’s election to the Rajya Sabha is therefore being seen as a foregone conclusion.

While announcing the seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar NDA for the general elections, it was said that Paswan would be sent to Rajya Sabha from wherever the first election is held.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW