Mithi goes to Rajya Sabha uncontested

Itanagar, Mar 19 (UNI) Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Puduchery Lt Governor Mukut Mithi was today elected uncontested to the Rajya Sabha.

Assembly sources informed that Mithi was declared elected after his nomination papers were found valid.

Mr Mithi, who filed his papers on Friday after resigning from the post of Puducherry Lt Governor on March 12 last, was supported by 43 Congress MLAs, 14 independent and two Arunachal Congress (AC) members who are associate members of the ruling party in a House of 60 with one opposition BJP member.

Mr Mithi had to resign from his assembly seat (Roing) before he assumed office of Lt. Governor of Puducherry on July 19, 2006. He arrived here March 13 to file nominations.

Talking to mediapersons recently, he disclosed that more cohesive Centre-state relations would be his priority and would see to it that the financial package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his maiden visit to the state recently would be expedited in a time-bound manner.

Pointing out that a mechanism would be in place soon for effective monitoring of the implementation process, the veteran politician said the package would accelerate the economic growth of the state through development of specific infrastructure announced by the prime minister.

Mr Mithi further said immediate priority of the Congress in the state was Panchayat elections and efforts should be made to address the grievances of the panchayat raj institutions.

UNI UPB SB HT2318