Team News Riveting
Guwahati, March 29
Even as hectic politicking is going on in Assam ahead of the Rajya Sabha election, suspended Congress MLA Sashi Kanta Das on Tuesday said he would be voting for the ruling BJP-led coalition government candidates in the Rajya Sabha polls for the cause of “development”.
The development has come as a big jolt for the Congress that has been eyeing to get one seat of the two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam; the elections for which will be held on March 31. The counting will take place on the same day.
Congress and the AIUDF have again come together after parted ways last year. It had decided to support Congress that requires 42 MLAs in the 126-member Assam assembly to win a seat.
The party had been claiming support of 44 MLAs. Two MLAs – Sherman Ali Ahmed and Sashikanta Das – are under suspension.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had been claiming to win both the Rajya Sabha seats, visited Das on Sunday, much to the chagrin of the Congress. However, on Tuesday he made his plan public by announcing that he will be voting for the ruling alliance’s candidates in the Rajya Sabha election for the cause of development of his constituency.
“My neighbouring constituencies have BJP MLAs, and I don’t want my constituency to lag behind,” he said. Das, a first-time MLA from Raha constituency, had on December 20 announced that he “joined the government”, but said he would continue to remain in the Congress. Hours later, the state Congress had issued a show-cause notice to the MLA and subsequently suspended him from the party.
BJP and its ally United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) — both components of the state’s ruling coalition — are contesting one seat each. The ruling side has the support of Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front.
The BJP-UPPL combine has the votes of 82 MLAs; two short of the required number to win both seats. If there is no cross-voting, BJP and Congress will win one seat each.
Both the seats were held by Congress’ Ranee Narah and Ripun Borah, whose term ends on April 2. Congress has re-nominated Ripun Borah.
