Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who submitted his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha seat from here today, expressed his gratitude to Assam for sending him to the upper house and said that he would do all possible to accelerate the state's economy so as to eliminate poverty.
"Assam has done me a great honour by sending me to the Rajya Sabha. I am also deeply indebted to the people of Assam and will do all I can to accelerate the economy of the state to remove poverty in the next 10 years," Dr. Singh said.
Dr. Singh further said that he was here not as the country's Prime Minister, but as a candidate seeking re-election to the Rajya Sabha from Assam.
The Prime Minister's current term as Member of Parliament (MP) expires on June 16.
Dr. Singh, who was first elected to Rajya Sabha from a seat in Assam in 1991, has since been elected four times from Assam.
In Assam, a notification was issued on Tuesday to hold elections to two Rajya Sabha seats. According to official sources, May 20 is the last date to file nominations and the scrutiny of nominations will be held the next day.
Polls, if necessary, will be held on May 30.
The current term of Rajya Sabha members representing Assam, Dr. Singh and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Kumar Deepak Das will expire on June 16.
