Kanpur: Former BSP MP Rajaram Pal, who was expelled from Parliament in the wake of cash-for-query scam, will be the Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Akbarpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi said, "Rajaram Pal will be the party candidate".
The responsibility of choosing the candidate for Akbarpur constituency was given to the UPCC. The state Congress unit after discussing the issue with the MLA's, MP's and local Congress leaders chose Rajaram Pal for the seat, she said.
Before delimitation, Akbarpur was known as Bilhaur. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Rajaram from Bilhauur had won the election on a BSP ticket. But in December 2005, Pal was among 11 MP's who were expelled from Parliament in the "cash for query" case.
After his alleged involvement in the case, he was sidelined in the party. Lal then formed Indian Sarvodya Kranti Party, but he was defeated by a huge margin in the by-elections.
On whether Pal's entry into the Congress will bring a bad name to the party, Joshi said, "The party has offered ticket to him on benefit of doubt."
Union Minister of State Sriprakash Jaiswal defending Pal's candidature said his offence has ended with the end of the 14th Lok Sabha and that he has completed his punishment of staying away from Parliament sessions for two and half years.
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