Lucknow: The wife of the BJP MP Ram Shankar Katheria, contesting in Etawah Lok Sabha seat, has filed nomination against him as an independent candidate on Wednesday. Etawah constituency will go to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.
Mridula Katheria previously in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections submitted papers but eventually withdrew them, The Indian Express reported.
Ram Shankar won the seat for the BJP defeating SP’s Kamlesh Kumar by over 64,000 votes.
“Nomination papers are filed not to be withdrawn. I will contest the election… This is my birthright,” Mridula was quote as saying on Wednesday.
The deadline for filing nomination papers is May 25 and the last day for withdrawing from contest is May 29.
Three-time MP Ram Shankar Katheria reportedly said his wife files nomination papers every time and withdraws, adding ‘ This is her decision to contest the election.’
A senior BJP leader reportedly said that Mridula enters the race as a ‘precautionary measure’ to ensure ‘she could contest the election with the support of the party’ in case any issues with Ram Shankar’s nominations hampers him.
The Etawah Lok Sabha seat has 18.23 lakh voters, with the Scheduled Caste community being the predominant voters.