Friday, May 27 2005 17:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress Working Committee member and former Chief Minister A K Antony was today (May 27, 2005) declared elected to the Rajya Sabha on expiry of the deadline for withdrawal of nomination for the bypoll to the upper house from the State this evening, Legislature Secretariat sources said.

Antony was the lone candidate in the fray for the seat left vacant by Karunakaran who resigned the Rajya Sabha membership after he broke away from the Congress and floated the National Congress (Indira) on May 1.

Antony was handpicked for the seat by the Congress high command, ignoring the names of probables submitted to the AICC (All India Congress Committee) by KPCC.

The LDF (Left Democratic Front) did not put up candidate, sparing Antony of even a token contest.