RJD to nominate Jethmalani, Rabri for Rajya Sabha

Eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani and former chief minister Rabri Devi will be nominees of Bihar's ruling RJD for the biennial polls to the Rajya Sabha next month.

"RJD chief Lalu Prasad has finally approved the name of Ram Jethmalani and Rabri Devi as party nominees for polls to the Rajya Sabha," Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders close to him said on Wednesday.

The national and state parliamentary boards of RJD last week authorized Lalu Prasad to select candidates for the upper house of parliament.

"Lalu has favoured Ram Jethmalani for two factors. First he is a BJP baiter after being expelled from the saffron party in 2013, and second is that he has been helping Lalu in the multi-crore fodder scam cases," another RJD leader said.

With 80 legislators in the Bihar assembly, two RJD nominees for the five Rajya Sabha seats will get through easily.

RJD's ally Janata Dal-United will nominate two candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls with 71 legislators, and the Bharatiya Janata Party will nominate one candidate with 53 legislators.

The term of five sitting Rajya Sabha MPs from Bihar will expire in July.

--IANS

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