AIUDF Supports NDA Candidate For RS In Assam

Guwahati: In a surprising move, MPs of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam on Thursday extended support to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Pramod Boro for the Rajya Sabha elections.

United People’s Liberal Party (UPPL) chief Mr. Boro formally filed his Rajya Sabha nomination along with two candidates of the BJP on Thursday. His candidacy required the support of at least 20 MLAs and the list of supporting legislators also included members of the AIUDF, widely seen as the BJP’s political rival.

Three AIUDF legislators have signed on to support Mr. Boro’s candidature, sources said, adding that the MLAs who extended their support include Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, Nizam Uddin Choudhury and Zakir Hussain Laskar.

Earlier, AIUDF was pushing for AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal to be the joint opposition candidate for the third Rajya Sabha seat. However, the support of the NDA candidate by AIUDF MLAs has now made it clear that the political equations in Assam have changed.

Mr. Boro, who recently contested the Bodoland Territorial Council elections but lost to Mr. Hagrama Mohilary, remains a key ally of the BJP within the NDA in the state.

Since no candidate from the opposition is contesting, it is significant that the three NDA candidates will be elected unopposed if their nomination papers are found in order.

Assam has seven seats in the Rajya Sabha. The three seats will fall vacant next month when the terms of MPs Bhubaneswar Kalita, BJP’s Rameswar Teli and Assam Ghana Morcha’s Ajit Kumar Bhuyan end on April 9.