Assam state re-nominates PM Manmohan Singh

May 09: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was collectively re-nominated by the Assam Congress Legislature party, on Tuesday, as a ruling partyâ??s candidate for the Raj Sabha. The PM filed his nomination papers in the assembly seeking re-election for the fourth successive term.

For last three times Dr. Singh was elected only as MP from Assam, but it is for the first time he will be elected, being a Prime Minister.

•   E-mail Article
•   Printer Friendly
•   Text-Size    

After submitting four sets of nomination papers to Assam Assembly Secretary, G.P. Das at 11.15 am, the Prime minister said: â??I am grateful to the people of Assam and all the legislators for giving me yet another opportunity to seek re-election to the Rajya Sabha."

The term of BJP's Indramoni Bora is also expiring along with Dr. Singh. According to the senior Congress minister the ruling is not complacent to take any risk by fielding a second candidate. He added that the ruling party wanted to ensure a smooth win for Dr. Singh.

Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, Congress leader Motilal Vihra, Digvijay Singh and CM Tarun Gogoi were also present on the occasion.The CM of Assam said that the PM's election was a mere formality. "This is a proud moment for us," he added.

The Congress has 53 seats and its coalition partner, Bodoland People's Progressive Front (Hagrma) has 12 members in the 126-strong House.

Meanwhile a Limca record holder, for being the most unsuccessful candidate, K.Padmarajan, from Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu, filed his papers as an Independent candidate against Dr. Singh. Though he does not have the required number of signatures , which is a minimum of 10 MLAs to back his candidature, but he is not bothered about the rejection of his nomination.

The AGP has 24 MLAs and AUDF's (Assom United Democratic Front) 10 each, while the Left parties have three and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's AGP (Pragatisheel) one. The AUDF and BJP have ideological differences, but they are reportedly not reluctant for supporting a candidate put up by the AGP.