AIUDF to contest RS polls

Opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) today announced that it would contest one of the two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam going to polls on May 30.
AIUDF working president Aditya Langthasa said the party would contest the forthcoming Rajya Sabha polls and hold discussions with other opposition parties in this connection.
The party held a meeting, chaired by its president Badruddin Ajmal, here last night where issues related to forthcoming Rajya Sabha polls, Lok Sabha elections and various problems of the state were discussed, Langthasa said.
"We will hold discussions with other opposition parties and strive to arrive at a consensus candidate," he added.

AIUDF is the largest opposition party in the Assam assembly with 18 MLAs.
Elections will be held to fill up the vacancies which have arisen due to the expiry of the term of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is Rajya Sabha member from Assam, and AGP MP Kumar Deepak Das on June 14 next.

According to the schedule, polling for the two seats would be held on May 30 for which notification would be issued on May 13 and the last date of filing nominations is May 20.
The Congress would contest both the seats with the Prime Minister's candidature confirmed while discussions are on to select the candidate for the other seat.

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) with 10 MLAs would also support a combined opposition candidate and hold talks with other parties, party leader Durga Das Boro said.