New Delhi:
As the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) defeats the opposition parties in four states Assembly elections, the party, on March 10, has expressed confidence that it will get both the Rajya Sabha seats from Assam.
“We are confident of winning both the Rajya Sabha seats in Assam,” said Union Minister for Waterways and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal to The Meghalayan here.
Along with five other states, polling for two Rajya Sabha seats in BJP-ruled Assam will take place on March 31.
Sonowal also expressed confidence that the opposition parties in the state can’t put forward a common candidate.
In fact, the Congress which has taken up the onus to bring all the opposition parties in Assam together to fight the BJP, is in dilemma after All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) showed interest to put its own candidate in fray for one Rajya Sabha seat.
Term of incumbent Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah will come to an end on April 2.
The election commission has recently announced that March 12 is the last date for filing nomination for the Rajya Sabha poll. “We have seen today’s results of the just concluded Assembly elections. People have full faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Sonowal.
In the 126 member Assam Assembly, BJP and its allies have 84 seats which ensure one seat for the party. The party alone has 65 seats.
On the other hand, Congress and other opposition combined have 42 seats while Congress alone has 27 seats.
The fumbling opposition in Assam, till date, has not been able to put any common candidate. According to a senior leader in the BJP, apart from ensuring one seat for its own party candidate, the party also gave one seat for the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).
Hagrama Mahilary led BPF has recently become a partner of the ruling party in the Assam Legislative Assembly.