Rajya Sabha polls: BJP’s Kamakhya Tasa & AGP’s Birendra Baishya filed their nominations

May 28: Two of Assam’s seven Rajya Sabha seats will be vacated after the six-year tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Santiuse Kujur – both of Congress – ends on June 14th, 2019. The election for the two Rajya Sabha seats will be held on June 7th, 2019. Tuesday was the last date for filing nominations.

On Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kamakhya Prasad Tasa and Asom Gana Parishad’s Birendra Prasad Baishya filed their nominations for the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections. Both the leaders were accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, AGP chief Atul Bora, Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and Assam tourism minister Chandan Brahma. Also, Kamali Basumatary, Thaneswar Basumatary, Prashanta Phukan, Angoorlata Deka, Binanda Saikiam Utpal Bora, Bhaben Bharali, Kamal Singh Narzary, Pabindra Deka and Pradip Hazarika were present. Both Tasa and Baishya submitted their nomination papers to returning officer A N Deka.

It needs mention here that the third seat which will fall vacant next year will be given to another alliance partner Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). This was announced by NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma after filing of the nomination. The Congress is unlikely to field any candidate this time due to shortage of numbers to ensure victory for its candidate.