Jethmalani, Nirupam file nomination papers for RS

MUMBAI, MARCH 11: Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani and Shiv Sena nominee Sanjay Nirupam on Saturday filed their nomination papers for the...

MUMBAI, MARCH 11: Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani and Shiv Sena nominee Sanjay Nirupam on Saturday filed their nomination papers for the March 29 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha.

Jethmalani, who filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate, has been supported by both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as Shiv Sena. In the last elections too, Jethmalani was an Independent candidate. Jethmalani and Nirupam were accompanied by former chief minister Narayan Rane and former deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde

Apparently, Shiv Sena took a decision to support Jethmalani after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani spoke to Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Earlier, Thackeray had declined to oblige Jethmalani and had announced the candidature of D B Patil, who recently joined the Shiv Sena from PWP.

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The contention of senior Shiv Sena leaders was that it should not nominate or support Jethmalani, since had not fought the case of Thackeray, who has been debarred from voting, with the centre as well as President of India.

Though Jethmalani has been supported by the alliance, Nirupam will be first candidate of the Shiv Sena, while the Law Minister will be the second candidate.

According to a senior Shiv Sena leader, a quota of 48 votes will be given Nirupam, while the remaining votes will be allotted to Jethmalani.