Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam for the fifth consecutive time. Another Congress nominee, Santiuse Kujur, also won the second Rajya Sabha seat from the State, polling for which took place in the Assembly here on Thursday.
Dr. Singh polled 49 first preference votes and Mr. Kujur 45 first preference votes. All India United Democratic Front nominee Aminul Islam polled 18 votes. Nine legislators of the Asom Gana Parishad and five BJP MLAs in the 126-member House abstained from voting.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was the first to cast the vote, congratulated Dr. Singh for his fifth consecutive victory. He said both Dr. Singh and Mr. Kujur would work for the progress and prosperity of the State and the country.
The Congress has now five representatives out of seven from Assam in the Upper House.
The AGP and the Congress ally, Bodoland People’s Front, (BPF) have one member each in the Rajya Sabha.
