GUWAHATI, Jan 27 � With the unity among the opposition parties seemingly unlikely, the Congress-Bodoland People�s Front (BPF) alliance is hoping to win all the three Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, elections for which will be held on February 7. Though the Congress is yet to formally announce the names of its candidates for the polls, Sanjay Singh from Amethi is likely to be the first candidate of the ruling party.
Congress sources told The Assam Tribune that Sanjay Singh arrived in the city this evening to file nomination papers for the polls, as tomorrow is the last date for filing of nomination papers. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita is likely to be the third candidate of the Congress-BPF alliance. BPF nominee Biswajit Daimary, who is the second candidate of the alliance, today filed his nomination papers.
Congress sources said that if the opposition parties fail to field a common candidate, it will be smooth sailing for all the three candidates of the ruling alliance having 94 legislators in the 126-member House. But if the Opposition manages to field a common candidate, it would be tough for the third candidate of the alliance and it would have to depend on the Trinamool Congress and independent legislators.
Till the time of filing of this report, the Opposition has not been able to finalize a common candidate and the state unit of the BJP made it clear that it would not be possible for the party to come into an alliance with the AIUDF. However, president of the state unit of the BJP Sarbananda Sonowal, said that the central committee of the party would take the final decision regarding participation of the BJP legislators in the polls.
Sonowal said that the AIUDF is a partner of the UPA and it would not be possible for the BJP to come into an alliance with the party. He said that if a non-political person having contribution towards Assam and its people approaches the BJP, the party would consider supporting such a person. But till now, no such person approached the BJP, he added. He further pointed out that with only five legislators, the BJP is not in a position to propose anyone�s name.
Sonowal also hit out at the Congress for nominating Sanjay Singh as one of the nominees and said that "this action proved that the Congress never has any respect for the people of Assam."
Meanwhile, immediately after filing his nomination paper, Biswajit Daimary said that he is confident of being re-elected to the Rajya Sabha. He claimed that during his first term as an MP, he was able to bring to the notice of the Government of India several major problems concerning the North East region. He said that if re-elected to the Parliament, he would try to stress on the need for amending the Constitution and the system of functioning of the Government for the solution of the burning problems of the region.
