Assam: Lobbying for 2 Rajya Sabha seats begins, bureaucrat joins race

The declaration of the Rajya Sabha elections on March 21 for two seats in Assam has suddenly surcharged the political atmosphere in the state with a top-serving bureaucrat also throwing his hat into the ring.

Pointing out that two Rajya Sabha Congress MPs Nazneen Faruque and Pankaj Bora, who are retiring, are also in the fray for a second term, sources in the ruling party said some ministers were engaged in a signature campaign among the MLAs discreetly proposing the name of a serving bureaucrat for nomination.

Asserting that more than 20 MLAs have already signed the petition, sources said the minister from Barrak Valley, who is taking the lead, intends to submit three names for the nomination to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Informing that apart from the name of a serving bureaucrat on first position, sources said the petition has proposed the names of former Union minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar and Cabinet minister Chandan Sarkar as second and third aspirants. According to the EC, the notification for the election would be issued on March 4, while the last date of making nomination expires on March 11. Scrutiny would take place on March 12 and the last date of withdrawal is March 14.

The announcement of the poll schedule is expected to result in hectic lobbying for the two berths in Assam. While the two sitting MPs are in the race for another term, others who are vying for a seat include PCC president Anjan Dutta, former union ministers Paban Singh Ghatowar and Ranee Narah, Dwijen Sarmah, Kirip Chaliha and Bishnu Prasad.

According to sources, a prominent media baron has also been sending feelers, while AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal has already declared his support for Abdul Muhib Mazumdar, who is from the Congress. Mr Mazumdar has already expressed his willingness to go to Rajya Sabha.