Friday, March 17 2006 19:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Union Ministers Arjun Singh, Sushilkumar Shinde, Praful Patel and Dasari Narayana Rao, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi are all set to be elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha as last day of nominations for biennial polls to the upper house saw a rush of 50 candidates joining the fray in seven states.

However, contests appear certain in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Bihar where RJD and LJP partners in UPA at the Centre will cross swords in the March 29 Rajya Sabha elections.

Another Congress leader who looks set to get elected to the upper house is debutant Abhishek Manu Singhvi who filed his nomination in Rajasthan today (Mar 17 2006).

Arjun Singh, senior Congress leader and HRD Minister, today filed his nomination for Rajya Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh.

BJP has fielded Sushma Swaraj and Vikram Verma, former National Commission for Women member Anusuiya Uiekey and party leader Narayan Singh Kesari for Rajya Sabha from the state and the election of all five is a mere formality.

In Andhra Pradesh, Narayan Rao, Congress President K Kesava Rao and trade union leader G Sanjiva Reddy were among 30 candidates who filed their papers for the elections.

All the nominees of ruling Congress, CPI and main opposition for the six vacancies are set to be declared elected unopposed, given their numerical strength in the 294-member Assembly.