Former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Dinesh Sharma has been declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from the state, officials on Friday informed. This move came as Sharma was the only candidate to file a nomination for the September 15 by-election which was necessitated following the death of incumbent MP Hardwar Dubey (he was also from the BJP). According to officials, the term of the seat is till November 2026.
No other candidate had filed nomination papers
"Dinesh Sharma has been declared elected unopposed," Assistant Returning Officer Ajit Sharma told PTI. He added that no other candidate had filed nomination papers barring BJP's Dinesh Sharma.
Sharma expressed gratitude
After the significant development, Sharma expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president J P Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and BJP's central and state leadership.
While expressing his gratitude, Sharma also stressed that he will try to live up to the trust reposed in him by the party leadership.
"Now the only goal will be to contribute to form the (BJP) government for the third time in 2024 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre. And, to establish an emerging India on top of the world under his leadership," Sharma said.
"Schemes for the welfare of the poor are not being liked by the opposition parties who exploit the poor. This is the reason for their nervousness," Sharma said.
Sharma held these portfolios
In the first term of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath- led government between 2017 and 2022, Sharma was one of the two deputy chief ministers. He held portfolios of secondary education, higher education, science and technology and IT and electronics.
