Pramod Tewari, Kanaklata all set to enter Rajya Sabha

Lucknow: Senior Congress leader and 9-time MLA Pramod Tewari and Samajwadi Party`s Kanaklata Singh are poised to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.

Tewari filed his nomination papers today and Kanaklata yesterday for two Rajya Sabha berths from Uttar Pradesh. The byelections for two seats arose following the death of Kanaklata`s father Mohan Singh, an SP leader and noted socialist, and disqualification of Congress member Rashid Masood. As the nominations for the two seats drew to close this evening, only Tewari and Kanaklata are in the fray and both are all set to elected unopposed to the Upper House. The ruling Samajwadi Party, which has a majority in the House, has not fielded a second candidate. Flanked by state Congress chief Nirmal Khatri and party legislators, Tewari filed his nomination before the Returning Officer at the Vidhan Sabha secretariat here. Scrutiny will be held tomorrow and the last date of withdrawal is December 12.