GUWAHATI, Jan 28 � Having fielded senior journalist Haidar Hussain as a united opposition candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Assam after intense efforts, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) today exuded confidence about his victory.
�We are confident that Hussain will win. We expect the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and also some members of the ruling Congress to give their third preference vote in favour of Hussain,� a senior AIUDF leader told The Assam Tribune.
He said the candidature of Sanjay Singh, an outsider, by the Congress high command and denial of a ticket to Kirip Chaliha as demanded by dissident ruling party MLAs, will ensure that the ruling alliance�s vote will see fractures during the polls scheduled for February 7.
�Just wait and see. A lot will emerge during the polling,� the leader said.
Hussain filed his nomination papers around 2.40 pm today at the State Assembly. Three sets of nomination papers were filed on his behalf, two jointly by the AIUDF and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and one jointly by the AGP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Today was the last date for filing of nomination papers for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Assam which are falling vacant on April 9 when the current terms of Bhubaneswar Kalita (Congress), Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) and Biswajit Daimary (Bodoland People�s Front) will be over.
The ruling Congress with 79 MLAs and its alliance partners BPF with 12 MLAs are sure to win at least two of the three seats.
The AIUDF (18 MLAs), AGP (9) and BJP (5) are looking to win the third seat. The 126-member Legislative Assembly also has two Independents and one Trinamool Congress MLA.
