Finally, after spells of speculations and suspense, Mamta Rakesh has filed nomination papers as a Congress candidate for Bhagwanpur (Scheduled Caste) Assembly by- election at the district collectrate at Roshnabad on Tuesday.
However, Satyapal Singh, the Congress leader who had unsuccessfully contested from this seat during 2012 Assembly election as a party candidate, said he would remain in the fray as an Independent candidate.
The bypoll would be held on April 11.
Mamta Rakesh (41), widow of former Cabinet Minister Surendra Rakesh whose death last month necessitated the by-poll, was a teacher by profession in a State Government-run school. She had resigned from her post before filing her nomination. later, State Congress convener Jot Singh Bisht handed over the Congress symbol to Mamta Rakesh to complete the nomination process.
She was accompanied by family members and Congress workers, including Subodh Rakesh, brother of the deceased Minister who had also been a strong contestant for the seat.
BJP candidate Rajpal Singh also filed nomination paper here in the Collectrate office. He was accompanied by district MP and former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and several BJP MlAs from the district, including Madan Kaushik, Adesh Chauhan and Pradeep Batra, along with a large number of party activists.
Despite Mamta Rakesh having a fair chance of winning the by-poll riding on the crest of the sympathy wave for her deceased husband, State Congress leadership is worried with Satyapal Singh refusing to withdraw from the race despite being lured to do so. Asked whether he would stay put in the race, Singh said he would contest the election as an Independent, come what may. “I am doing this because of the public pressure. They want me not to leave the field,” he said.
Training his gun on the party leadership, the dissident leader said the post of vice- president of Social Welfare department offered by State Government did not make sense.
“This is specially so as the model code of conduct is in force. I am sure of my victory, given the extent of the common people’s support for me,” he averred.
Wednesday being the last day for filing nominations, eight candidates had filed nomination papers by 3 pm-the time the process ended.
The last date of withdrawal of nominations is March 26. Total 1.43 lakhs voters are expected to exercise their franschise at 143 polling stations.