Guwahati: Three candidates from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Assam filed their nominations for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, officials said, setting the stage for their likely unopposed election to the Upper House.
The nominees include the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jogen Mohan and Terash Gowala, along with United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) leader Pramod Boro. They filed their nomination papers at the Assam Legislative Assembly in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
With the opposition is yet to announce any candidates and lacking the required numbers in the state Assembly, the three NDA nominees are expected to be elected unopposed.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Assam are being held to fill three seats currently held by BJP leaders Bhubaneswar Kalita and Rameswar Teli, and opposition-backed Independent member Ajit Kumar Bhuyan. Their terms are scheduled to end on April 9.
Jogen Mohan, who represents the Mahmora Assembly constituency, currently serves as Assam’s Cabinet Minister for Transport, Hill Area Development, and Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture.
Terash Gowala, the BJP MLA from Duliajan, arrived at the Assembly complex on a bicycle to submit his nomination papers.
Pramod Boro, former Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), is set to become the UPPL’s second representative in the Rajya Sabha if elected.
At present, Assam’s representation in the Upper House includes Union Minister Pabitra Margherita and Kanad Purkayastha from the BJP, Birendra Prasad Baishya of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and Rwngra Narzary of the UPPL.
The 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly currently comprises 64 BJP MLAs. Its allies include nine members from the AGP, seven from the UPPL and three from the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).
On the opposition side, the Congress has 26 MLAs, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) 15, while the CPI(M) and an Independent have one member each.