Lucknow: In a surprise move, Samajwadi Party on Wednesday decided to field Jaya Bachchan in the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha.
SP parliamentary board has decided to renominate its outgoing Rajya Sabha MP, Jaya Bachchan in the elections slated for June ten, Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry said. The party has also decided to field Rashid Masood, former union minister for the Rajya Sabha, he said.
Due to depleted strength of the party in Uttar Pradesh assembly, it is in a position to nominate only two leaders to Rajya Sabha, from where seven of its sitting MPs are retiring in July this year, including Jaya Bachchan.
Currently SP has 11 Rajya Sabha MPs. For the Vidhan Parishad, the party would field three candidates Balram Yadav, Ram Sunder Das Nishad and Ram Naresh Yadav (sitting MLC), Chaudhary said. Among the 13 Vidhan Parishad members, the party had five, he said.
Owing to Jaya Bachchan's proximity to expelled general secretary, Amar Singh, there were speculations within the party that she would not be given ticket again and the SP may field its national spokesperson Mohan Singh to one of two Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant. PTI
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