Assam opposition facing desertions ahead of Rajya Sabha polls
By IANSThursday, March 25, 2010
GUWAHATI - The combined opposition in Assam continued to be on tenterhooks over Friday’s Rajya Sabha polls with at least three legislators openly announcing their decision to vote against their party-backed candidate.
Among those who vowed to vote against the common opposition candidate include Rasul Haq of the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), Abdul Aziz of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Jagat Singh Ingti of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC).
Election for the two Rajya Sabha seats — now being held by the Congress party — is scheduled for Friday.
The Congress fielded two candidates — Silvious Condpan being the second preference candidate, while Nazneen Farooq is their first choice.
The AGP, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AUDF have fielded just one candidate — Jayanta Baruah, owner of the mass-circulated Asomiya Pratidin newspaper.
While the Congress is sure to win their first preference candidate, their second candidate would scrape through only if there is cross-voting in the opposition camp.
Meanwhile, the poll arithmetic is becoming murkier by the hour — the combined opposition has the support of 51 legislators in the 126 member house.
But the equations have changed — Abdul Aziz apart, three independents and as many BJP legislators announced their support for the Congress candidate, expressing displeasure over the decision to nominate Jayanta Baruah.
And on Thursday, three more legislators — Rasul Haq, Jagat Singh Ingti, and Abdul Aziz — made a dramatic u-turn and said they would vote for the Congress candidate.
The opposition requires 43 votes to get their candidate win the polls and as of now Jayanta Baruah has the support of 41 legislators.
“As on date, we have the support of 43 candidates as against 41 by the opposition,” senior Congress leader and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Meanwhile, the AGP suspended Abdul Aziz from the party on charges of anti-party activities.
“I have no regrets over the suspension order issued by the party. I would vote for the Congress candidate as my party (AGP) leadership betrayed us by secretly deciding to nominate Jayanta Baruah as the common candidate. We were never told about Baruah’s candidature and that really hurt me a lot,” Aziz told IANS.
