Lucknow: In a surprise development, arms dealer Suresh Nanda, fielded by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dissidents for Rajya Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh, on November 9 said he was withdrawing from the contest.

"I am withdrawing from the contest and the replies submitted by me to objections raised over my nominations to the Returning Officer have become irrelevant," he said.

PTI