GUWAHATI:
In a fresh setback for the Congress-led opposition in Assam, two of the party’s MLAs are likely to abstain from voting during the elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in the state.
The two MLAs, who have decided to abstain from vote, are suspended legislators Sashi Kanta Das and Sherman Ali Ahmed.
“My health is not good. I may not attend the voting for the Rajya Sabha poll,” Das told the press, on March 20, after Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met him at his Dimou Chariali residence.
Das, however, clarified, “I am still in the Congress party. Even as I am under suspension, I will follow the party’s rules.”
According to sources, the decision will be a debacle for Congress candidate Ripun Bora, even as the opposition parties have the numbers to win the second seat. The elections for the two Rajya Sabha seats will take place on March 31.
Earlier on March 19, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) alliance had named Pabitra Margherita and Rwngwra Narzary as its candidates for the polls, while The Congress had renominated Ripun Bora as its.
The strength of the ruling BJP-led alliance in the House is 82, with 63 its own MLAs, 9 AGP, 7 UPPL, and 3 BPF MLAs.
On the other hand, the strength of the opposition parties is 42, with 27 Congress, 15 AIUDF, one each of CPI(M) and Raijor Dal MLAs.
The victory of the first choice, BJP’s Margherita is almost sure as the ruling alliance has the requisite number for it.
However, Congress candidate Ripun Bora has to lose the battle to UPPL candidate Rwngwra Narzary if the two MLAs abstain from voting.
Meanwhile, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, informing about his meeting with the Congress MLA at the latter’s Dimou Chariali residence, said that he reviewed developmental activities in the area and discussed ways to accelerate them further.
Sarma discounted the value of the party whip by saying, “There is no value of party whip in a Rajya Sabha election. The ballot paper has to be shown…Generally, no legislator from the party is disqualified regardless of which party’s candidate the MLA votes for. The only thing here is that the MLA has to make it known to whom the vote has been given.”
Sources close to the development said there is also the possibility of two or more MLAs abstaining from voting on the day.