Rajya Sabha bypoll: BJP nominates MJ Akbar from Jharkhand

BJP national spokesperson MJ Akbar will be the party's candidate for by-election to a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand.

"BJP president Amit Shah has decided that MJ Akbar will be the party's candidate for the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha bypoll," a party statement said. The by-election to the council of states from Jharkhand has been necessitated following the resignation of Kanwar Deep Singh.

The bypoll will be held on July 2, the last date of filing of nomination for which is June 22 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is June 25. The bypoll results will be out on July 2 and the tenure of the elected member will be up to July 7, 2016.

A former journalist and editor, Akbar has been associated with various publications including India Today, the Asian Age, the Sunday Guardian. He has also authored several non-fiction books. He joined BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections