Manmohan elected unopposed to RS from Asom

Guwahati, May 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was today elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Asom as former Union Minister Matang Singh withdrew his nomination papers at the last minute.

Along with Dr Singh, AGP candidate Kumar Deepak Das also won the second RS seat from the state.

Mr Matang Singh withdrew his papers this afternoon after pressure from the Jamiat, which prevailed upon his backer Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) to withdraw the candidature.

However, Mr Singh told newspersons that he withdrew his papers so that the Prime Minister could win the polls unopposed.

However, talking doing rounds in the political circuit that Mr Singh was trying to claw back to the Congress from where he was expelled for six years for anti-party activities. Meanwhile, both Congress and AGP rejoiced the uncontested election of their candidate. Congress sources said election of the Prime Minister was a foregone conclusion as the party attempted twice the vote it required to send Dr Singh for the fourth consecutive terms from Asom.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reacting to the Prime Minister's victory said, '' His fourth term from Asom would herald a new era for the state, '' and opined that as a MP from Asom, the Prime Minister would not only take special care for his adopted state but also for the whole region.

On the other hand, it was a celebration time in the AGP camp, which took considerable time in selecting their candidate after failing to come out with a consensus candidate for the Opposition.

'' The uncontested victory of Mr Das symbolises the rebirth of the AGP, '' said AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharrya. Party president Brindabon Goswami, who returned from violence-affected Doomodoma area last night, told newspersons that he would continue to work for the unity of the Opposition.

The Opposition was in a complete disarray in selecting one consensus candidate and eventually the AGP and the AUDF fielded their candidates, while the BJP remained undecided till the end.

He was later expelled from the Congress and trying to regain an entry to his parent party. '' If he wants to enter the Congress, he should use the front door rather than the backdoor. Anybody can join the Congress, '' Mr Gogoi said.

UNI