After much speculation, the BJP on Monday announced its Rajya Sabha candidate from Uttar Pradesh — former State Minister and party vice-president Shiv Pratap Shukla.
However, political circles in the U.P. capital were abuzz with the presence of a Gujarat-origin entrepreneur-cum-social worker, Preeti Mahapatra, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Elections for 11 Rajya Sabha and 13 State Legislative Council seats are due in U.P. next month and the political tongues have been wagging ever since Ms. Mahapatra, an unknown personality in the State, purchased the nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha seat for an unnamed independent candidate. It was not clear if it was for herself or her husband Harihar Mahapatra, a Mumbai-based builder of Odiya origin, who is currently camping in Lucknow with her.
The couple claims to be part of Mr. Modi’s team. While Ms. Mahapatra is the founder and managing trustee of the Krsna Leelaa Foundation, a charitable trust, her Facebook page also describes her as the national president of the Narendra Modi Vichaar Manch. On October 2, 2014 the NGO run by them was in news after it announced it would build 10,000 toilets in four talukas of Navsari district of Gujarat. According to a close source, Mr. Mahapatra’s father was the OSD to former Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi, and is believed to enjoy clout among the political class in New Delhi.
According to sources close to the couple, Ms. Mahapatra initially wanted to enter the fray as an independent and was looking to garner the support of some BJP MLAs, apparently eight, and other independents for her nomination proposal. “For a brief moment, she was also hoping to qualify as the BJP’s official nominee. But with the announcement of the BJP’s official candidate that was dashed. They are now trying to cobble together support from smaller parties such as the Quami Ekta Dal, Peace Party and the RLD, including some independents. But even that looks uncertain now,” an informed source said.
BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak denied that the party had offered support to Ms. Mahapatra and said he did not know the couple. He, however, said that if any independent candidates contested, the BJP could “consider” supporting him or her if it had extra votes. “As per our strategy then, we could consider support,” he said.
Tuesday is the last day for filing nomination. The ruling Samajwadi Party has nominated seven candidates, including old Mulayam Singh aides Amar Singh and Beni Prasad Verma. The BSP, which has 80 seats, has nominated Mayawati’s aide Satish Mishra for the third time, and young coordinator Ashok Siddharth. The Congress has fielded former Union Minster Kapil Sibal from U.P.
The BJP also announced its candidates for the State Vidhan Parishad — its west region head Bhupendra Chaudhary and party State mantra Dayashankar Singh.
