In what has given an interesting turn to the Rajya Sabha election for two seats in Assam, most political parties are finding it difficult to enforce the party whip in view of the ongoing Assembly polls.
The presence of leading businessman Mahavir Jain in the fray as an Independent candidate, proposed by Bodoland People’s Front, has made it more challenging for Congress candidates. The ruling party has fielded ex-ministers Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah for two seats.
The election for the two Rajya Sabha seats is scheduled to take place on March 21.
According to the existing strength of the Assam Assembly, the ruling Congress is confident to win its first seat with required first preference vote of 39 MLAs.
If the Opposition, which is divided, decides to support Mr Jain, it would be difficult for the ruling party to retain its second seat.
Mr Jain told this newspaper he was confident about his victory, as legislators from all political parties have assured support to his candidature. He, however, refused to reveal his equation of support.
The normal practice in the Rajya Sabha polls has been that the parties issue whips to legislators to cast votes for particular candidates. In the case of a three-line whip, all the legislators have to show their votes to the authorised agents of the parties and candidates. If any member defies the party whip, the parties can approach the speaker seeking disqualification of the legislator for defying the party whip. In most cases, the legislators who defy the party whip face disqualification from the Assembly. However, this fear of whip has become irrelevant for many legislators being denied nomination for the Assembly by the Congress party.
Though 10 BPF legislators signed the nomination of businessman Mr Jain, it is still not clear whether other Opposition parties will extend support to him.
The AIUDF spokesman Aminul Islam said the party is yet to take a decision on whether it would take part in the Rajya Sabha polls. The same is the case of BJP, as the party is yet to take a decision on whether to participate in the Rajya Sabha polls. The AGP is also undecided on the issue. Leader of the AGP legislature party Phani Bhushan Choudhury said no one has yet sought the support of the AGP.
