Sanjay Singh's nomination from Assam upsets local Congressmen

GUWAHATI: A section of Assam Congressmen are unhappy over the high command’s decision to field Sanjay Singh, who represents UP’s Sultanpur, as a candidate in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha polls from the state.

A senior Congress leader told ET, “It was surprise as Singh’s name came from AICC. Out of three seats, one seat will go to Congress ally Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) and Congress will contest other two seats.

Several Congress leaders were lobbying hard to make it to the Upper House. While Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita was looking for a fourth term, others in the fray included Kirip Chaliha, Dwijen Sarma, Haren Das, Bolin Kuli and Bishnu Prasad.

At least 40 MLAs had signed a memorandum pleading for renomination of Bhubaneswar Kalita. A Congress leader who did not want to be named said, “The practice of imposing candidate from outside the state is nothing new.

Already we have PM Manmohan Singh who represents Assam in Upper House. There was discontentment in the state PCC over Sanjay’s nomination. However, the party plan for UP might have necessitated it.” Sonia and Rahul Gandhi’s constituencies of Raebareily and Amethi, respectively, neighbour Sultanpur, and Sanjay Singh is believed to have some influence in the area as the scion of the erstwhile rulers of Amethi.