GUWAHATI, March 12 - The nomination papers of all three candidates who had filed their nominations for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha polls from Assam were found valid during scrutiny today.
Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha polls Mrigendra Kumar Deka said the nomination papers of Congress candidates Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah and Independent candidate Mahavir Prasad Jain were found to be valid.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is 3 pm on March 14.
Voting for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam is scheduled for March 21.
The polls for the two seats are being held as the terms of two serving Upper House MPs from the State � Pankaj Bora and Naznin Faruque � who are both from the Congress, will end on April 2.
After resignation of some MLAs and disqualification of a few others, the strength of the Assam Legislative Assembly currently stands at 114. A candidate will need 39 first preference votes to win the Rajya Sabha polls.
The Congress currently has 68 MLAs in the Legislative Assembly. Two MLAs, suspended earlier by the AIUDF, also recently joined the Congress. There are seven MLAs of the AGP, six of the BJP, 12 of the BPF, 16 of the AIUDF, one of Trinamool Congress and two Independents.
The AIUDF has decided to abstain from voting.
