Journalism of Courage
Cleric,ministers,journalists and senior SP leaders are vying for Rajya Sabha nomination in Uttar Pradesh.
The ruling party in UP has already announced Kanaklata Singh as its candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat,which fell vacant after death of her father Mohan Singh.
Earlier,she had tried for partys candidature from Salempur Lok Sabha seat,but was denied. Earlier,party had nominated Alok Tiwari,the son of Brijbhushan Tiwari for Rajya Sabha,when latter died.
It becomes easy to avoid groupism by passing the seat to the deceased leaders family, a senior party leader said.
Clamouring is at its peak among the probables for another Rajya Sabha seat,which fell vacant due to the conviction of Congress member Rasheed Masood in medical seat allotment scam case. Nominations for the two Rajya Sabha seats began Tuesday with last date being December 10. Due to the numbers,SP is likely to bag both the seats easily.
Senior SP leaders confided that Arshad Madani,the president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind is the front runner for the second nomination. Madanim,who is yet to take the final call,had stood with SP during the recent communal riots in Muzaffarnagar.
Till now,Arshad Madani has not participated in active politics. If he agrees,it will be accepted by party leadership, a SP leader said.
With Madani not disclosing his intentions,his protege Ashu Malik,who is an advisor in Youth Welfare Department with minister of state status,may be nominated. Malik had helped SP in garnering Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari of Delhis Jama Masjid support during Assembly elections. Malik was also instrumental in return of Azam Khan to partyfold.
Javed Abedi,who is chairman of UP Development Systems Corporation (UPDESCO) with minister of state status,is also in the runnig for the Rajya Sabha seat.
Several journalists too,who share good relations with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav,are also lobbying for the Rajya Sabha seat. Senior SP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Bhagwati Singh and youth leader Sanjay Lathar,too,are hoping to win Mulayams confidence.
