RS by-poll: BJP nominates MJ Akbar from Jharkhand

BJP national spokesperson MJ Akbar will be the party's candidate for <g data-gr-id="19">by-election</g> to a Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand.

"BJP president Amit Shah has decided that MJ Akbar will be the party's candidate for the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha <g data-gr-id="18">bypoll</g>," a party statement said.

The by-election to the council of states from Jharkhand has been necessitated following the resignation of Kanwar Deep Singh.

The <g data-gr-id="17">bypoll</g> will be held on July 2, the last date of filing of nomination for which is June 22 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is June 25.

The <g data-gr-id="16">bypoll</g> results will be out on July 2 and the tenure of the elected member will be up to July 7, 2016.

A former journalist and editor, Akbar has been associated with various publications including India Today, the Asian Age, the Sunday Guardian. He has also authored several non-fiction books. He joined BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.