GUWAHATI, March 14 - With none of the three candidates who had filed their nominations for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha polls from Assam withdrawing from the fray, the stage has been set for voting on March 21 to fill up two Upper House vacancies from the State.
Today was the date for withdrawal of nominations, but none of the candidates � Congress candidates Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah and Independent Mahavir Prasad Jain � withdrew their nominations.
�There has been no withdrawal of candidature by any candidate. So, voting will take place on March 21,� Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha elections Mrigendra Kumar Deka said.
Voting will take place between 9 am and 4 pm on March 21. Counting of votes and declaration of results will also take place the same day.
Election 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 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 AIUDF, also recently joined the Congress. There are seven MLAs of AGP, six of BJP, 12 of BPF, 16 of AIUDF, one of Trinamool Congress and two Independents.
Jain�s candidature was supported by 10 BPF MLAs. While the AIUDF has announced its intention to stay away from the voting, there have been no official word from the BJP and the AGP so far regarding their likely stand in the Rajya Sabha polls.
