Kapil Sibal files papers for Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: Former union minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal today filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh.

Besides Sibal, Congress leader from Amethi and state Congress general secretary Deepak Singh filed nomination as official party candidate for the UP Legislative Council.

They were accompanied by senior Congress leaders including AICC general secretary Madhusudan Mistri, Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari and UP PCC chief Nirmal Khatri.

Congress has 29 MLAs in the 403-member state Assembly and Sibal would require an additional eight votes for victory.

Asked whether ruling Samajwadi Party has assured him of support for the extra votes, he said 'Saab Ka Saath, Mere Saath'.

Sibal, who was accompanied by his wife, said he would serve UP. He, however, refused to comment on any political issue.

Sibal's legal expertise has brought him closer to Samajwadi Party. He has represented the SP government in the Supreme Court on several crucial cases, at times drawing the ire of UP Congress.

Tomorrow is the last date for filing of nomination papers. Till today, 10 candidates have filed papers for the 11 RS seats that will go to polls on June 11. For the 13 seats of the Legislative Council, 12 candidates have filed their nominations so far.