GUWAHATI, May 25 � The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today announced that it would abstain from the voting for the polls to the two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, scheduled for May 30.
�We were looking to put up a consensus candidate of all Opposition parties. However, as it did not happen, we have decided to abstain from the polls. This decision was taken at a steering committee meeting of our party held yesterday,� AGP general secretary Durga Das Boro told reporters here.
The current Rajya Sabha terms of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and AGP leader Kumar Deepak Das will end on June 14. The ruling Congress has re-nominated Singh, while Santiuse Kujur is the Congress candidate for the other seat.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has put up Aminul Islam as its candidate for one of the seats. The AGP�s decision to abstain from the polls comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday also decided to stay away from the Rajya Sabha elections.
The ruling Congress, with 79 MLAs, and supported by 12 MLAs of its ally Bodoland Peoples� Front (BPF) is looking to win both the seats. In the 126-member State Legislative Assembly, the AIUDF has 18 MLAs, while AGP has 9, BJP has 5, Trinamool Congress has one MLA and two members are Independents.
Meanwhile, AGP will contest the upcoming polls to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) on its own. The party today released the list of its candidates, among whom are former GMC Deputy Mayor Balendra Bharali and national level sportsperson Bangita Hazarika.
�We will contest the polls for all the 31 ward councilors and 90 area sabha representatives. We are confident of securing a majority in the GMC elections. Our main electoral plank would be exposing the State government�s neglect towards civic problems facing the people of Guwahati, including artificial flood, poor condition of roads, drainage system and street lights ,� Boro said
The last date for filing nomination papers for the GMC polls is May 27. Voting is scheduled for June 19 and counting of votes will be done on�June 24.