General polls as per schedule: Moily

Guwahati, Oct 2 (UNI) Dismissing speculations of early general elections, senior Congress leader Dr Veerapa Moily today maintained that the Lok Sabha polls would be held as per schedule.

''There is no possibility of early polls as on date,'' Dr Moily told reporters here when asked if the elections, which are due next year, would be held towards the end of the current year.

He refused to speculate on reports claiming that Congress chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had hinted at early elections.

The central Congress observer for Assam, Dr Moily sounded optimistic of winning maximum seats in the state, where the Congress has retained power in two successive Assembly elections.

On a possible arrangement with the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), he said the Congress was ready for a merger.

''In fact, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has himself stated in the media that the Congress is welcome to merger,'' he added.

The AUDF has emerged as a major concern for the Congress, with the former winning 10 seats in its debut in Assembly polls in 2006.

The formation of the AUDF has led to division of Muslim votes, which was earlier a major vote bank for Congress.

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