Congress leader Satyapal Singh on Friday finally withdrew his nomination papers for the Bhagwanpur Assembly by-election which is slated to be held on April 11. Friday was the last day for withdrawal of nomination. Sources said things were settled late night of Thursday after he reportedly talked over the phone with senior Congress leaders.
On Friday morning, State Congress chief Kishore Upadhaya along with Anand Rawat, son of Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Jot Singh Bisht reached the residence of Singh, during which the thaw came, it is learnt. Satyapal Singh had previously filed the two sets of nomination papers — one as a Congress candidate and another as an Independent.
Around 12 noon, Satyapal Singh along with Anand Rawat and Jot Singh Bisht reached the Collectrate premises at Roshnabad and withdrew both sets of nomination papers in the presence of SDM Bhagwanpur, RO and ARO. After he withdrew himself from the race, he said he had filed the nomination after the party had consented him to do so. “But the party symbol was not allotted to me. Those close to me were angry. Some of them are still annoyed. However, I am a Congress worker at heart. We would work together to ensure the Congress candidate Mamta Rakesh wins,” he said.