Mr Fadhli was formerly an important ally of the president, Mr Saleh, and served in the upper house of parliament as a member of the ruling General People's Congress.

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Evidently, this misconduct was deemed necessary because, even with control of both the House and Senate infriendly hands, President Obama required Republican votes in the upper chamber to secure passage of his repeal initiative.

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President Yeltsin needs the support of regional big-shots, who make up parliament's powerful upper house.

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Some 16, 000 candidates will contest the elections to Parliament's lower house, the Lok Sabha. (The members of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house, are indirectly elected by state assemblies or appointed by the president.) In addition, about 17, 000 candidates will simultaneously contest the elections to the six state legislatures.

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