LDF nominees for Rajya Sabha, K N Balagopal and T N Seema, filed nomination papers for the elections to the Rajya Sabha here on Tuesday, the last day of filing nominations. Defence Minister A K Antony had filed his nomination on March 15 for the other Rajya Sabha seat that had become vacant.
Both the CPM leaders arrived at the Assembly complex accompanied by almost the entire LDF cabinet led by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and LDF legislators, including RSP leaders Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran, A A Aziz and Kovoor Kunjumon. The CPM picked its nominees after rejecting the claims made by the RSP.
Balagopal and Seema filed two nominations each and submitted the deposit amount of Rs 10,000 to Legislature Secretary P D Rajan, the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha elections. Balagopal’s deposit amount would be borne by the DYFI and SFI, and T N Seema’s by the party. Going by the ruling party’s strength in the Assembly, CPM-led LDF can win two of the three Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant. Antony’s win is also a foregone conclusion.
