CPI`s Raja to file nomination papers for Rajya Sabha seat today

Zee Media Bureau Chennai: Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader, D Raja, will file his nomination papers on Monday for contesting Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu against DMK president’s daughter Kanimozi. Raja, who is also CPI’s national council secretary, was fielded by the party as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls on Sunday. Raja would file his nomination papers today, before the deadline for submitting candidature ends, CPI All India General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy said.

Though the Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa expressed her party`s inability to support CPI nominee Raja, the party`s Central Secretariat decided to contest the election, Reddy said. CPI held its state executive last week at which the issue of entering the RS poll fray and field Raja was endorsed, he said. Reddy said CPI hoped that those parties who are not contesting the election and those who have surplus votes will support Raja candidature. AIADMK by contesting five of the six seats has upset the calculations of CPI, which had earlier banked on the ruling dispensation support to Raja, for another term. Reddy sought to duck a query on whether CPI would approach DMDK leader Vijayakanth for support to its candidate and said, "we welcome anybody to give votes. But at the moment, we do not have such plan to meet the DMDK leader". DMK has already nominated its candidate Kanimozhi and has also been making efforts to lure other parties to ensure her victory for a second successive term. DMDK has so far not decided on fielding its candidate though it is the principle opposition party and is yet to announce its plans for the upcoming RS election. (With PTI Inputs)