Gorakhpur: BJP candidate Dhruv Tripathi on Monday filed his nomination papers for Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers’ constituency in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council election, saying safeguarding teachers’ interests would be his foremost priority.A total of 13 candidates submitted their nomination papers before returning officer and divisional commissioner Indra Vikram Singh at the commissioner’s office. Election officials said the nomination process was conducted in accordance with Election Commission guidelines and prescribed security protocols.Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination, Tripathi said he had entered the electoral fray to address teachers’ concerns and work for their welfare. “Teachers’ interests are my first priority,” he said.Asked why he was contesting as a BJP candidate instead of an independent, Tripathi said the decision was not one-sided and that he had himself sought the party’s nomination.On the demand for restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and payment of honorarium to teachers of unaided institutions, Tripathi said the issues had already been brought to the government’s notice and that the government had assured serious consideration.He said a service-rule framework for teachers of unaided institutions was being prepared and the government was also examining the issue of their honorarium. If elected, he said, he would continue to raise teachers’ concerns and work towards their resolution.
