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Race hots up for Cong RS nomination

By Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, March 10 � The race for Rajya Sabha nomination has gained momentum, with partymen flocking the National capital. The State Congress party is likely to finalise its candidate on Friday after arrival of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Aspirants for the much coveted seat to the Upper House of the Parliament have been lobbying hard with top leaders of the AICC. Silvius Condpan and Syeda Anowara Taimur are retiring in April. �Both the retiring candidates are seeking a second term.

Amidst much confusion over ruling Congress Party�s stand, candidates with their supporters have pitched camps in Delhi. PCC chief Bhubaneswar Kalita and the Chief Minister have to take a call on contesting both the seats and party men have diverse views.

Conflicting signals from AUDF is the prime reason for the confusion in the Congress ranks. While AUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal has stated that he was with the Opposition and would support a neutral candidate, a section of his partymen are reportedly in touch with the Congress Party.

However, the Chief Minister is undecided over contesting both the seats and is reluctant to strike a deal with the AUDF rebels. �They are seeking tickets for Assembly election next year, which we can�t promise,� said a senior Congress leader, adding that they are going to put only one candidate.

However, the compulsion before the State Congress leadership is to satisfy the tea tribe and minority community, both of which have voted for the party in the last Parliamentary election.

Another leader, who is a senior MP from the State, countered this argument by asserting that the Congress Party should take advantage of the confusion in the Opposition rank and file two candidates.

The Opposition AGP, BJP and AUDF are yet to work out a strategy amidst the tug of war between AGP and BJP over fielding candidates.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, who is expected to arrive shortly, is likely to meet AICC president over the weekend and finalise the candidate. The meeting is slated to be attended by general secretary in-charge for Assam, Veerappa Moily, political secretary to Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, Kalita amongst others.

Meanwhile, Dr Pervez Ahmed, son of late President Fakruddin Ali Ahmed, Santosh Mohan Dev, Dwijen Sarma, Niva Konwar, Bobita Sarma, Pankaj Bora, Bishnu Prasad, Abdul Hamid, Madhab Rajbongshi, Dileswar Tanti amongst others are vying for nomination.

Taimur and Nazeen Farooki have gathered signatures of MLAs and State Ministers supporting their candidature. Some of the candidates have also met Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

Condpan and a few other aspirants have submitted Power Point presentation to the Congress president high-lighting their performance in Parliament.

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