Sarbananda Sonowal files Rajya Sabha nomination from Assam

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday filed his nomination in the state assembly. He was elected from Majuli seat in the assembly polls held in March-April this year.

He is all set to be elected unopposed because the opposition Congress party is likely not to field a candidate.

Sonowal who was former Assam chief minister was inducted in the Union Council of ministers in July this year.

The October 4 election is to fill the Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant after Biswajit Daimary resigned to become the assembly speaker.

Sonowal said, " I thank Prime minister Narendra Modi and party president J P Nadda besides Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for nominating me and carrying forward the process. "

The BJP-led NDA secured 75 seats in the 126-member assembly, 11 seats less than in 2016.

The BJP won 60 seats which is similar to the number it won five years ago. The Asom Gana Parishad won nine seats against 14 seats last time, while the new alliance partner, United People's Party Liberal, got six seats.

Congress in this year’s assembly polls won 29 seats, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 14 seats. Two sitting Congress MLAs have resigned from the assembly. Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) won four seats and CPI(M) wrested one.

Sonowal tweeted, "submitted my nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls, at Assam Legislative Assembly."

Sarma in tweet stated, "we've immensely gained from vision & leadership of Union Min Sri @sarbanandsonwal. I accompanied him for filing of his nomination for Rajya Sabha seat. He is a unanimous candidate of BJP, AGP and UPPL and many esteemed leaders joined Sonowal Dangoriya today."