Zubeen Garg’s name proposed for upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections in Assam, claim reports

GUWAHATI: Popular singer Zubeen Garg’s name has been proposed for upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections in Assam.

According to reports, former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi has proposed the name of the celebrity from the state.

"I have no interest in politics but Rajya Sabha is different. Well-known faces are sent to Rajya Sabha from different states. Let me think about it. Right now, I can’t comment on this, let me reach Guwahati,” he said.

Speaking to The Sentinel Digital, Zubeen Garg’s wife Garima Saikia Garg said, “I am not aware of the matter and I didn’t hear anything as such from my part.”

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced elections for three Rajya Sabha seats from Assam. The biennial elections to the Council of States will be held for 55 seats from 17 States in April 2020.

The ECI will issue the notifications on March 6. The last date of making nominations is March 13. Scrutiny of nominations will be on March 16. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is March 18.

While the polls will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on March 26, (Thursday) 2020, the counting of votes will commence from 5 pm that very day. The election will be completed before March 30, 2020.

While one of the three election-bound seats from Assam is presently being held by Biswajit Daimary of the BPF (Bodoland People’s Front), the other two seats are being occupied by Bhubaneswar Kalita and Dr. Sanjay Singh of the Congress; however, both resigned from the Council of States last year and have now joined the BJP. According to an ECI press note, all of them will retire in April 2020.

Presently, there are 124 MLAs in Assam Legislative Assembly. Due to the death of former Speaker of ALA and Sibsagar legislator Pranab Kumar Gogoi (Congress) and Rajen Borthakur (BJP) from Rangapara, two seats are vacant.

Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Going by the party-wise strength of MLAs in the State, while the ruling coalition should get two seats, the Opposition — if they remain united — could win one seat.

Dwelling on the RS seats, Sarma added, “Before the Assembly polls in 2021, election will be held also for two more RS seats of Assam. However, we will field only BJP candidates for those two seats.”

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