Rajya Sabha elections: Chidambaram files nomination from Maharashtra

Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance minister P Chidambaram today filed his nomination papers for the biennial elections to Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. Accompanied by former state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, MPCC president Ashok Chavan, former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and other party leaders, Chidambaram filed the papers at the Vidhan Bhawan here.

His son Karti Chidambaram was also present when he filed his nomination before the returning officer. Chidambaram, 70, did not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and his son Karti had unsuccessfully fought from his native Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu.

Besides, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane also filed his nomination papers here for a Rajya Sabha seat. Today is the last day for filing the nominations for the biennial elections to Rajya Sabha to be held on June 11.

In Maharashtra, six RS seats are up for grabs. The biennial elections to 57 seats in Rajya Sabha are necessitated as 55 members from 15 states are retiring between June and August.