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UP: Three vie for BJP top post

Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Kalraj Mishra, state Bharatiya Janata Party unit vice-president Ram Prakash Tripathi and Shailendra Kumar Nishad on Wednesday filed their nominations for the election to the state unit's top post scheduled for Thursday even as efforts are on to evolve a consensus.

Mishra's candidature has been proposed by current president Om Prakash Singh, Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta and Union Surface Transport Minister Rajnath Singh while thirty members of the state executive proposed Tripathi's name.

The deadline for withdrawal of nominations expires on Wednesday night, at 2000 hours (IST).

Top party leaders, including Rajnath Singh and BJP national general secretary K N Govindacharya are holding hectic parleys in Lucknow, the state capital, to evolve a consensus in favour of Mishra.

Mishra told reporters, "I have filed my nomination on the directive of the party high command and do not want any bickering among state leaders on the issue."

Tripathi, claiming the 'blessings' of senior leaders, ruled out withdrawal. "I should not be treated as a rebel because contesting elections is part of inner party democracy," he says.

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