Rajya Sabha poll today; opposition divided

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: An electoral college of 126 voters (MLAs) of the state will elect two Members of Parliament (MPs) for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Three candidates – two of the ruling coalition and one of the Congress-led Opposition – will vie for the two Rajya Sabha seats. The ruling coalition fielded Pabitra Margherita of the BJP as the first choice and Rwngwra Narzary of the UPPL as the second choice. The Congress, AUIDF, CPI(M) and the Raijor Dal fielded Ripun Bora of the Congress.

While the ruling coalition has 82 MLAs, the Opposition camp has 44 MLAs. Congress did earlier suspend two MLAs – Sashi Kanta Das and Sherman Ali. While Das made it public that he would vote for a ruling party candidate, Ali said he would vote for Ripun Bora.

Minus Sashi Kanta Das, the opposition has 43 votes – Congress 26, CPI-M 1, Raijor Dal 1 and AIUDF 15. On the contrary, the ruling coalition needs 43 votes to make its first choice win. It will leave the ruling coalition with 40 MLAs (with Sashi Kanta – still short of the winning figure.

Meanwhile, a trust deficit between Congress and AIUDF is at work. APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) president Bhupen Borah accused the AIUDF of being a 'dhokebaaj' (cheater) yesterday. He said, "Five AIUDF MLAs have already been sold out. The votes of these MLAs are highly doubtful. This is no less than an attack on opposition unity," said Borah.

"We joined hands with the AIUDF for opposition unity against the BJP. But AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal expressed doubts about the integrity of five of their MLAs and said they could side with the BJP," Borah said.

Meanwhile, AIUDF general secretary Karimuddin Borbhuyan alleged that APCC president Bhupen Borah had a nexus with the BJP. He said, "All the 15 AIUDF legislators are united. We will cast votes as per the decision of the party."

Talking to the media, Congress candidate Ripun Bora said, "This RS poll will be a battle of ideology – democracy versus autocracy and communalism versus secularism. I will come out the winner."

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said, "Forty-three Opposition MLAs projected Ripun Bora as our candidate. Our stance still stands."

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