Sources say that Akhilesh Yadav called Jayant Chaudhary and informed about the party’s decision.
New Delhi:
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has decided to choose ally Jayant Choudhary as the party’s third candidate for the Rajya Sabha.
Earlier there was speculation that Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav was his likely choice for the Upper House of Parliament.
After reports yesterday that Dimple Yadav had snatched the slot, Jayant Choudhary was reportedly upset.
Sources say that Akhilesh Yadav called up his Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) colleague this morning to inform that he is the party’s final choice for the Rajya Sabha.
On Tuesday, Jayant Choudhary was reportedly conveyed that he was out of the race for three Rajya Sabha seats of the Samajwadi Party from Uttar Pradesh.
Former Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Javed Ali Khan are the other two candidates supported by the Samajwadi Party.
Sources say Mr. Yadav had promised to send Jayant Choudhary to the Rajya Sabha, but he disagreed. Mr. Yadav wanted him in the Upper House under the banner of Samajwadi Party, but Mr. Choudhary insisted on going as a candidate of his party RLD with the support of Samajwadi Party.
11 seats of Uttar Pradesh will be included in the Rajya Sabha elections next month.
Altogether, voting for 57 seats in 15 states is to be held on June 10.
The BJP, which recently returned to power with a landslide victory in the politically crucial state, is set to retain its dominance in the Upper House by capturing around 80 per cent of the total seats.
Uttar Pradesh sends 31 MPs to the Upper House; Of them, 11 are due to retire on July 4. This will include five from the BJP, three from the Samajwadi Party, two from Mayawati’s BSP and one from the Congress. At present, the BJP has a strength of 22, while the Samajwadi Party has five. BSP and Congress have three and one each.