BSP, Cong candidates file nomination papers

Kanpur: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress candidates filed their nomination papers on Tuesday for the Ghatampur assembly constituency byelection to be held next month.
Congress candidate Kripa Shankar, a resident of Asha hospital Ghatampur, and BSP candidate Kuldeep Kumar, resident of village Pipri, post Amraudha, filed their nominations.
Some independent candidates purchased one set of nomination papers on Tuesday.
BSP candidate Kuldeep Shankhwar, accompanied by former health minister in the BSP government Anant Mishra alias Antu Mishra, was the first candidate who submitted his nomination papers in the morning before the returning officer.
Later, Congress candidate Dr Kripa Shankar also filed his nomination papers. The candidates and their supporters complied with the Covid-19 protocol while filing their nomination papers. Only candidates and their two proposers were allowed to enter in the court of the returning officer.
Samajwadi Party had already declared the name of Inderjit Kori as its party candidate, who would file his nomination papers in a day or two. BJP leadership has made Upendra Paswan as its party candidate.
Upendra, who is a teacher in BNSD Inter College, is also regional president of SC Morcha of BJP, has been active in the party for a long time. In 2017, when BJP declared Kamal Rani Varun as the party candidate for the assembly election, Upendra was l one of the strong contenders for the ticket.
The Ghatampur seat fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLA and former minister Kamal Rani Varun.
Kamalrani Varun’s daughter too was a strong contender for the ticket as some the party workers were of the opinion that she would give a good fight by bagging sympathy votes.