Parrikar files Rajya Sabha papers from UP

Newly sworn-in Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Monday filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh.

Flanked by union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Kalraj Mishra and Minister of State for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the former Goa chief minister appeared cheerful as he chatted with the waiting media persons and state leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Talking to the media later at the state BJP headquarter, the newly sworn-in defence minister said he was feeling proud to be in the state of Lord Ram and Krishna.

Thanking his partymen and the people of the state, Parrikar said in Uttar Pradesh he will be using his experience and would always keep the interest of the state in his mind.

Saying that he will very soon learn to speak fluent Hindi, he assured party leaders that he will visit the state again after the end of the winter session of parliament.

Parrikar said that the security of the nation will not be compromised. He was sworn in as a union cabinet minister Sunday and later allotted the defence portfolio.

With Parrikar filing his papers for the Rajya Sabha polls, it would be for the first time in India's history that the prime minister, the home minister and the defence minister all would be representing Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a Lok Sabha member from Varanasi, union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is a Lok Sabha member from Lucknow, and now defence minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to be elected to the Rajya Sabha, based on the BJP's strength of legislators in the state assembly.

Polling for 10 Rajya Sabha seats will be held Nov 20. The ruling Samajwadi party (SP) has fielded six candidates, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) two, and the Congress one. All are likely to get elected unopposed.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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