Tarun Gogoi to talk to AIUDF on Assam Rajya Sabha seat

GUWAHATI: The Congress and the All India United Democratic Frontmay field a joint candidate for one of the three Rajya Sabha seats, elections to which will be held on March 26. The move comes ahead of 2021 assembly polls.

The parties have a history of forging electoral alliances. Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said “we will talk to the chief of the All India United Democratic Front, BadruddinAjmal about a common candidate for the Upper House.”

Finance minister Himanta Sarma had recently said that the ruling coalition would consider a third candidate if opposition parties fail to reach a consensus on a candidate. Of the three seats, two vacancies were caused after Congress leaders Bhubaneswar Kalita and Sanjay Singh joined the BJP and quit their RS seats. The third vacancy is due to Bodoland People’s Front MP Biswajit Daimary completing his term.


BJP has hinted on fielding Kalita and Daimary has been re-nominated by the BPF, an alliance partner of the BJP which governs the Sixth Schedule area of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). In a related development, minister of state for educationBhabesh Kalita said that BJP will contest the BTC polls on its own. Elections to the 40-seat tribal council are scheduled for next month.