Congress, AIUDF candidates file nomination for second RS seat

Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) candidates filed their nomination papers for the second Rajya Sabha seat from Assam on the last day of nominations today.
Congress candidate Santius Kujur, an adivasi leader who had contested the last assembly polls from Panery in Udalguri district, filed his nomination papers in the presence of senior party leaders and MLAs in the state assembly,
AIUDF's Aminul Islam, accompanied by party president Badruddin Ajmal and other party leaders, also filed his nomination papers before the Assembly Principal Secretary G P Das, who is also the returning officer for the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for May 30 in the state.

Ajmal has meanwhile urged Congress to withdraw from the second seat as it (AIUDF) had left the first seat for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
''As partners of the UPA at the Centre we respect the prime minister and want him to win unopposed. But at the same time, we want the Congress to reciprocate and leave the second seat for us,'' Ajmal said.
AIUDF is the largest opposition party in Assam assembly with 18 seats and Islam is the party's general secretary and an advocate of Gauhati High Court.
Elections to the two Rajya Sabha seats will be held to fill up the vacancies arising due to the expiry of the terms of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is a RS member from Assam, and AGP MP Kumar Deepak Das on June 14 next.

Singh had filed his nomination paper here on May 15.