JD(U) names Sharad Yadav, RCP Singh as candidates for Rajya Sabha polls

Bihar's ruling JD(U) today announced its leader Sharad Yadav and party General Secretary RCP Singh as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls.

Yadav was formerly the JD(U) president, from whom Nitish Kumar took charge in April, and RCP Singh is considered very close to Kumar.

"Party president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today approved the names of senior leader Sharad Yadav and national General Secretary RCP Singh for Rajya Sabha (polls) while Gulam Rasool Baliyavi and C P Sinha would be party's candidate for Legislative Council polls," party leader Bashishtha Narayan Singh said.

Terms of five JD(U) Rajya Sabha MPs from Bihar - K C Tyagi, Pavan Kumar Varma, Gulam Rasool, Ramchandra Prasad Singh, and Sharad Yadav - end in July.

A gazette notification was issued on May 24 to elect five Rajya Sabha from Bihar and seven Legislative Council members.

May 31 is the last date for filing nominations for these seats, while scrutiny will take place on June 1. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 3.

The polling, if necessary, will be held for five RS seats on June 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and counting of votes will be done at 5 p.m. the same day. Council polls, if necessary, will be held on June 10.

Based on party's strength in the Bihar Assembly, JD(U) will get two seats each in Rajya Sabha and Council whereas RJD will get two RS seats and BJP one RS and one Council seats.