AGP leader sacked for ‘mistake’ in casting vote

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has expelled three-time MLA Padma Hazarika for a “deliberate mistake” during voting in the RS polls last Friday in which an opposition-backed candidate narrowly lost.

His vote was cancelled as he put a tick mark against the name of his choice instead of a numeral as specified by the EC. He admitted the mistake but said AGP did not brief him on how to cast his vote.

The 32 legislators of the opposition AGP-BJP-AIUDF combine could not ensure the victory of journalist Haidar Hussain, an independent. With at least five votes, including that of Hazarika, getting cancelled, the Congress-BPF alliance easily won all the three seats. An AIUDF MLA, who remained absent, was suspended.