why again for nominated RS seat. Hasn't he got the confidence to get elected -
now that he is Prime Minister? Is it real democracy?
Umesh
muktikam phukan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Guwahati, Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Cong to field Manmohan in State RS seat
>From Kalyan Barooah
NEW DELHI, April 30 The Congress has decided against fielding a second
candidate for the Rajya Sabha and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is going to
be the lone candidate from Assam. Hours after the Election Commission announced
the biennial elections to the Council of States, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met
the Prime Minister to pledge the Rajya Sabha seat for him for the third time in
a row. The formality of the Congress nominating his name is likely to follow.
In keeping with his wishes, we are not going to field the second candidate
from our party, he told this newspaper.
With the Congress deciding to field only one candidate, re-election of Dr Singh
is going to just a matter of formality. The Congress has 53 seats besides the
six associate members. In addition, it also enjoys the support of its alliance
partner BPPF (12) and NCP (1). The Opposition, however, is going to on a sticky
wicket as none of the parties are in a position to get its candidate elected
independently.
Earlier, the Election Commission of India declared that the election to the
post would be held on May 24, while the formal notification would be issued on
May 7. The last date of filing nomination expires on May 14 and the last date
of withdrawal is May 17. The counting of votes would take place the same day at
5 pm. The entire process is slated to be completed by May 28.
The other sitting MP who is going to retire is Indramoni Bora of BJP. The term
of both the Prime Minister and Bora expires on June 14.
Meanwhile, though there were a few aspirants from the Congress are for the
second seat, the AICC as well as Assam Congress is in no mood to take a chance.
A senior party leader, however, made a strong case for fielding a second
candidate arguing that as the voting for the RS is going to be through open
ballot, there is little possibility of the MLAs defying the Whip and thereby
facing expulsion under the anti-defection laws.
However, the State Congress leadership is not willing to offend the Prime
Minister.
Meanwhile, Gogoi may have alter his travel plans to Australia and Singapore, as
the Prime Ministers election is going to clash with his official tour. The
Chief Minister is part of the State Finance Ministers delegation that is
leaving for the two-nation tour on May 12.
The Chief Minister said he has to be present when the Prime Minister files his
nomination papers.
Meanwhile, Gogoi today met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to urge
him to exert pressure on the new dispensation in Dhaka to act against leaders
of the militant outfits like ULFA. He also urged similar steps by Myanmar
Government to launch a crackdown on militants operating from that country.
The External Affairs Minister reportedly briefed him about the situation in the
two countries and reportedly said that India is closely watching the
developments in the neighbourhood, particularly in Bangladesh.
Later, the Chief Minister told this newspaper that apart from action on
militants, he also conveyed that Assam, as well as other States in the region,
were keen to improve its trade ties with Bangladesh.
Improving our trading relations with the neighbouring countries is now our
focus of attention, he said.
---------------------------------
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Umesh Sharma
Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html
http://hbswk.hbs.edu/
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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