NEW DELHI, May 8 � Tension among party-men in the Congress is building up over nomination to the Rajya Sabha seat, with Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi clarifying that only party loyalists would be considered for the second seat.
Although two seats are up for grabs, the Chief Minister on Wednesday again met Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and invited him to contest from Assam. �The Prime Minister was gracious enough to accept our invitation and has agreed to contest from Assam,� the Chief Minister told newsmen after his meeting at the Prime Minister�s 7 Race Course Road residence. According to sources, the PM is likely to reach Guwahati on May 19 and file his nomination on May 20 and stay put till May 21, until the scrutiny process is over.
The Prime Minister, as expected would be the first nominee of the Congress Party, while a mad scramble has broken out for the second seat.
The tension among party aspirants escalated after Gogoi�s meeting with Congress president, Sonia Gandhi late on Tuesday evening. At the meeting the Gogoi reportedly briefed the Congress president about the party�s position and options before it. The Chief Minister has been insisting on fielding two candidates because of the ruling party�s comfortable position.
The Chief Minister who today declined to comment much on his meeting with the Congress president clarified that only party loyalists are being considered for the second seat. �I am going to send a panel of 10 names to the party High Command before I leave and the Congress president would choose from the list,� he added.
Amidst the backroom politicking, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal today had a chance meeting AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh at the Central Hall of the Parliament, when the AICC leader requested him to extend support to the Prime Minister�s candidature. Ajmal, whose party has 18 MLAs, later told this newspaper that he has agreed in principle to support Dr Singh�s candidature but is keeping his options open on nominating a second candidate.
According to sources close to Gogoi, the Chief Minister is likely to support the candidature of a loyalist belonging to his camp. In this connection, name of his media adviser, Bharat Narah is doing the rounds. Gogoi�s rival camp, which now boasts of support of over 30 MLAs, has opposed his candidature. The rebels are demanding that the second candidate should be finalised in consultation with them.
Kirip Chaliha, a prominent member of the disgruntled MLAs, met the Congress president three days back and reportedly briefed her about the latest developments in the State.