New Delhi: Angry over the failure of party nominee Brij Mohan Bhama to reach Lucknow to file nomination in the Rajya Sabha elections, Congress today (June 17, 2004) alleged a conspiracy behind it and demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

Bhama told reporters that he would be lodging a formal complaint to the Election Commission about the "conspiracy" and would seek extension of the deadline for filing nominations, which expired today, so that he could file papers.

"It is a conspiracy and there should be a thorough inquiry about it", senior Congress leader Birender Singh, who is in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh, said. Singh was accompanying Bhama in the flight.

Asked who were behind the conspiracy, he said that some "big people" are fighting the Rajya Sabha elections from the State.

Singh said that he and Bhama were at the Delhi Airport at 8:00 hours today but could not reach Lucknow despite being in the air for six hours. He said after there were technical snags in two planes, a third aircraft was offered to them at 12:00 hours, which however could not land in Lucknow due to "bad weather".

Bhama said that he would be meeting senior party leaders to apprise them of the situation, which resulted in his failure to file nomination.