Anshuman Mishra withdraws RS poll nomination

Independent candidate Anshuman Mishra withdrew his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections from Jharkhand on the last date of withdrawal on Thursday.

One of his proposers, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA B K Gagarai, withdrew the nomination on Mishra's behalf, Returning Officer K K Prasad said.

Prasad said that according to norms, the candidate himself, his agent or any of the proposers could withdraw the nomination.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha had objected to the party backing Mishra, an NRI businessman, saying the seat was being auctioned.

Mishra had earlier said that he had no intention to withdraw from the race unless the party leadership directed him.

Following Mishra's withdrawal there are five candidates for the  March 30 elections for the two Rajya Sabha seats from the state -- Pradip Kumar Balmuchu (Congress), Praveen Kumar Singh (Jharkhand Vikash Morcha-Prajatantrik), Sanjiv Kumar, (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) and two Independents, R K  Agarwal and Pawan Kumar Dhoot.