Earlier, the party had announced names of eight candidates, including Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
The BJP spoiled unopposed election to ten Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh on Monday when it fielded three more candidates Anil Agarwal, Vidhya Sagar Sonkar and Salil Bishnoi, slapping polls for Upper House berths on March 23.
With these three candidates, the BJP has now fielded 11 candidates, against ten Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, the party had announced names of eight candidates, including Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Arun Jaitley, Dr Ashok Bajpai, Vijaypal Singh Tomar, Sakaldeep Rajbhar, Kanta Kardam, Dr Anil Jain, GVL Narsimha Rao and Harnath Singh Yadav filed their nominations on Monday. Later, Anil Agarwal, Vidhya Sagar Sonkar and Salil Bishnoi also filed their nomination.
The last minute surprise entry of famous Ghaziabad businessman Anil Agarwal and two dummy candidates on the last day of filing nomination on Monday will ensure hectic political activities related to horse-trading, exchange of money-bags and floor-crossing in the next ten days to wrest the BSP seat.
Party sources claim that Sonkar and Bishnoi are dummy candidates and they may withdraw on March 15, the last date of withdrawal by candidates. Anil Agarwal will, however, remain in fray as its ninth candidate.
After ensuring victory of its eight candidates, the BJP with 324 members in UP Assembly along with its allies still has 28 extra votes for Anil Agarwal. In addition, the party also has support of three independents, including Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya.
It will require six more votes to make its ninth candidate sail through. With ace manipulator Naresh Agarwal on its side, the next ten days in Lucknow may witness hectic political maneuverings and exchange of money-bags in five star hotels in the state capital. Horse-trading and floor-crossing is not uncommon and the state has witnessed them during Rajya Sabha polls in the past.
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