Osmani to vote for UPA

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Silchar, July 18: Maverick politician and veteran Congress MP from Barpeta in Assam Abul Fazal Golam Osmani has set all speculation at rest by declaring that he would vote for the UPA government during the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

Dismissing the buzz that he was toying with the idea of not voting for the Congress, he firmly reiterated his loyalty to his party. He, however, did admit nursing a grudge against the state leadership, especially chief minister Tarun Gogoi, for its hostile attitude towards him.
Talking to reporters at his ancestral home here last night, the septuagenarian denied having attached any condition for his support.

However, his supporters and confidants said the MP had put forward three conditions. He has sought re-nomination as the party candidate from Barpeta Lok Sabha seat. If there is any vacancy from the state in the Rajya Sabha then he should be nominated as a candidate by the Congress. In case he is elected to the Rajya Sabha, the Barpeta seat should be reserved for his elder son Wajed Osmani, a doctorate in history from Aligarh Central University.

Osmani said he had received several phone calls from senior Congress leaders, including foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee and political secretary to AICC president Sonia Gandhi Ahmed Patel, over the past three days, seeking assurance about his support. source: telegraph india