Mulayam's 'old pals' Beni, Amar SP candidates for Rajya Sabha

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday named former party general secretary Amar Singh and former union minister Beni Prasad Verma, among others, as candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats from the state.

Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said the ruling party's other Rajya Sabha candidates were builder Sanjay Seth, Reoti Raman Singh, Sukhram Singh Yadav, Arvind Pratap Singh and Vishambhar Prasad Nishad.

On May 13, Verma announced he was leaving the Congress and returning to the Samajwadi Party (SP), of which he is one of the founding members.

Verma, who is said to have influence in Barabanki and nearby areas, left the Samajwadi Party in 2007.

He joined the Congress just before the 2009 general elections and was rewarded with the post of union minister in the United Progressive Alliance government.

Informed sources said the SP is in a position to send as many as 11 members to the Rajya Sabha in the July elections.

Amar Singh was expelled from the party in 2010 after his relations with the SP leadership, especially Ram Gopal Yadav, soured.

His candidature, party sources said, was stiffly opposed by state cabinet minister Azam Khan but finally SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had his say.

On many occasions in the past, Yadav openly said that Amar Singh may not be in his 'dal' (party) but certainly was in his 'dil' (heart).

By announcing his name for the upper house of parliament, the SP chief seemingly has rewarded Amar Singh for his long-lasting loyalty to him.

The party's parliamentary board also approved the names of Balram Yadav, Shatrudra Prakash, Yashwant Singh, Ram Sunder Das 'Nishad', Bukkal Nawab, Jagjivan Prasad, Ranvijay Singh and Kamlesh Pathak for the Uttar Pradesh legislative council.

--IANS

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