Guwahati, February 21 – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Saturday that the BJP is set to contest the two vacant Rajya Sabha seats in the state, which will go to the polls on March 16. Preparations are also underway to formulate a strategy for the third vacant seat.
Sarma said that the BJP has already decided to award party tickets for the two Rajya Sabha seats that will become vacant, and will soon complete the internal process for finalizing the candidates.
He added that the party will closely monitor the strategies adopted by the opposition parties before making a final decision on contesting the third vacant seat.
"The BJP will also prepare its tactics to contest the third vacant seat. However, the final decision on this will be made after observing the strategies of the opposition parties," the Chief Minister said.
Sarma further informed that the BJP's state unit will prepare a panel of three candidate names, which will be sent to the party's central leadership in New Delhi for approval.
He said that the process of shortlisting names is currently underway within the organization.
According to the Chief Minister, BJP state president Dilip Saikia will formally forward the list of shortlisted candidates to the central leadership for its consideration and final clearance.
"As per party norms, the state unit will recommend a panel of names, and the central leadership will take the final decision," Sarma said.
The Chief Minister also hinted that the BJP is confident of its numerical strength in the Assam Legislative Assembly, which plays a crucial role in the Rajya Sabha elections.
He said that the party will approach the elections in a planned and disciplined manner, keeping in mind both organizational interests and the broader political situation in the state.
The elections to the Rajya Sabha seats from Assam are scheduled to be held on March 16.
Political activity in the state has intensified in recent days, with both the ruling BJP and opposition parties holding internal discussions and consultations ahead of the polls.
With the BJP-led alliance enjoying a comfortable majority in the Assembly, the ruling party is widely expected to secure the two seats, while the contest for the remaining seat is likely to depend on opposition unity and strategy.