Sarbananda Sonowal congratulates BJP candidates for filing nomination for upcoming RS elections in Assam

Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 21 (ANI): After the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Assam, Mission Ranjan Das and Rameswar Teli filed their nominations, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday congratulated the leaders and hoped that the latter will work towards the development of the state.
Earier today, BJP leaders Mission Ranjan Das and Rameswar Teli filed their nomination as BJP Rajya Sabha candidates in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other BJP leaders.
"Today nominations have been filed for two Rajya Sabha seats. Both candidates are senior leaders. I congratulate both of them. I hope that both will sincerely do their work as the members of Rajya Sabha and will contribute to the development of Assam. With the blessings of the people we have been able to form the government in Assam twice and it is only because the people extended their helping hands. People have supported us in every election - Lok Sabha election, Panchayat election, Municipality election, Assembly election, we are grateful to the people of Assam. There is no strength of opposition here. They have now no confidence," Sonowal told reporters.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked the Central leadership for nominating Rameswar Teli and Mission Ranjan Das as their candidates for the elections.
"Today two nominations have been filed for two Rajya Sabha seats as the common candidates of BJP and its ally parties. A senior leader from the tea community Rameswar Teli has filed his nominations against the vacated Rajya Sabha seat of Sarbananda Sonowal after Sarbananda Sonowal won the Lok Sabha election. We are sure of Rameswar Teli's win. I think that he will be elected uncontested. I congratulate Rameswar Teli in advance. We thank the Central leadership for nominating him. Mission Ranjan Das won the assembly election in 1991 from North Karimganj seat as BJP candidate and he also became the leader of BJP Legislature Party in the assembly. Our party has nominated Mission Ranjan Das to file his nomination against the vacated Rajya Sabha seat of Kamakhya Prasad Tasa. I also congratulate Mission Ranjan Das and I hope that he will bring the aspirations of the people of Assam to the parliament," Assam CM said.
"There has been no Rajya Sabha member from Barak Valley since 2009, the last Rajya Sabha member from Barak Valley was Karnendu Bhattacharjee. A Rajya Sabha member will be elected from Barak Valley once again. No one was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karimganj, I think that Mission Ranjan Das's candidature will represent the aspirations of the people of Barak Valley. I hope that both candidates will be able to win uncontested," he added.
Mission Ranjan Das, a four-time BJP MLA from Karimganj North, is at present the chairman of Assam State Transport Corporation.
The by-elections were necessitated with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP's Kamakhya Prasad Tasa vacating the two seats after getting elected to the Lok Sabha.
Election Commission earlier this month announced that elections to 12 vacant Rajya Sabha will be held on September 3. Most of these seats fell vacant as sitting Rajya Sabha members were elected to Lok Sabha.
The BJP-led NDA is hoping for a majority in the Rajya Sabha after the bypolls. (ANI)