Dinesh Singh to take on Sonia in Rae Bareli

Rae Bareli: The Congress plea to get the candidature of its rebel MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh, who is contesting against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli on BJP ticket, cancelled was rejected by the district election office on Monday. District election officer Neha Sharma cleared Singh’s nomination papers. Though no formal announcement was made, Singh’s name was in the list of candidates in fray. Congress party had demanded cancellation of Singh’s nomination papers for violating provisions of the Representation of People’s Act 1951, and under the anti-defection law.
Congress district president VK Shukla had given a complaint to district election officer on Saturday stating that Dinesh Singh was Congress MLC as per records of UP Vidhan Parishad. However, he has filed nomination as BJP candidate which is violation of provisions of the 10th schedule of the Constitution. Sonia Gandhi’s representative KL Sharma had said: “Dinesh Singh should have taken the ethical path by surrendering his membership in Vidhan Parishad and then joined BJP.”

Congress workers refused to comment on the setback. District president VK Shukla said: “No comments.”