NDA set to win 3 RS seats from Assam unopposed

Guwahati: Three NDA candidates are poised to be elected unopposed to as many Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, with no opposition nominees filing papers till the end of the deadline on Thursday.

This has paved the way for the alliance to occupy all seven seats from the state in the upper house of Parliament.Along with two BJP leaders Jogen Mohan and Terash Gowala, the third NDA nomination was filed by United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro on Thursday at the assembly in the presence of Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal. With no challengers in the fray, their election is now a formality, subject to scrutiny of papersThe three seats in the upper house of Parliament held by Bhubaneswar Kalita and Rameswar Teli of BJP, and opposition-backed independent Ajit Kumar Bhuyan will fall vacant following the expiry of their terms on April 9.

The two BJP candidates are members of the current assembly. Mohan, also a cabinet minister handling transport, hill area development and indigenous faith portfolios, represents Mahmora in the assembly while Gowala, MLA from Duliajan, is known for his grassroots connect in upper Assam.On the other hand, Boro, a former chief executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council, heads the UPPL, a key NDA ally.Opposition parties, including Congress and AIUDF, stayed away from the contest, following insufficient strength and coordination in the 126-member house.

Currently, NDA occupies six of the seven RS seats from Assam — four from BJP and one each from UPPL and AGP. The remaining one seat is held by opposition-backed independent member, Bhuyan. These biennial polls are part of the nationwide election for 37 seats across 10 states, scheduled for March 16.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated the nominees, saying their unopposed entry reflects the NDA’s stronghold in Assam ahead of the assembly elections.