Mayor backs up for husband in Allahabad, files nomination

City Mayor Abhilasha Gupta today filed her nomination from the Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency as a covering candidate for her husband and Congress nominee Nand Gopal Gupta "Nandi".
According to party sources, Abhilasha's sudden move has followed apprehensions that Nandi's poll prospects might hit rough weather on account of the numerous cases of violation of Model Code of Conduct that have been slapped against him ever since his candidature was announced by the Congress on May 24 last.
Both Nandi, who was a cabinet minister in the previous Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh and Abhilasha who got elected as the youngest Mayor of Allahabad in the 2012 local bodies polls, were expelled from the BSP over a month ago for "anti-party activities".

Altogether 36 candidates have filed their nominations for the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat where the major players, besides Nandi, are sitting Samajwadi Party MP Kunwari Reoti Raman Singh, BSP's Keshri Devi Patel, BJP's Shayama Charan Gupta and AAP's Adarsh Shastri.
Today was the last date for filing of nominations for the seat, while scrutiny of papers will take place on April 21. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 24 while polling is scheduled on May 7.
Filing of nominations also came to a close for the adjoining Phulpur Lok Sabha seat where altogether 26 candidates have submitted their papers. Former test cricketer Mohd Kaif has been fielded from the seat by Congress.