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Key Points

Two NDA candidates have been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, highlighting the political dynamics in the state. Kanad Purkayastha, a BJP state secretary from Silchar, makes his parliamentary debut, following his father's political legacy. Birendra Baishya, a seasoned AGP leader, secures his third term in the Upper House. The uncontested election reflects the current political alignment in Assam's representation.

Key Points: NDA's Purkayastha and Baishya Win Unopposed Rajya Sabha Seats

  • BJP and AGP secure Rajya Sabha seats without opposition challenge
  • Kanad Purkayastha makes parliamentary debut from Barak Valley
  • Birendra Baishya returns for third Rajya Sabha term
2 min read

Two NDA candidates elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Assam

BJP's Kanad Purkayastha and AGP's Birendra Baishya elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Assam, marking political milestone

"Purkayastha's nomination is an attempt to strengthen BJP's base among Bengali Hindus - Political Observer"

Guwahati, June 13

The BJP’s Kanad Purkayastha and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) veteran Birendra Prasad Baishya have been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, an election official confirmed on Friday.

With no Opposition parties fielding candidates, the two National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominees were declared elected on Thursday, the last day for filing nominations.

The Rajya Sabha elections were originally scheduled for June 19.

This marks the parliamentary debut of Kanad Purkayastha, who currently serves as the BJP’s state secretary.

A native of Silchar, he is the son of late BJP stalwart and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha.

Baishya, a senior AGP leader and former Union minister, returns to the Upper House for a third term.

He has also previously represented Assam in the Lok Sabha.

The vacancies arose as the terms of Baishya and BJP’s Mission Ranjan Das are set to expire on June 14.

Assam has a total of seven seats in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP holds four, while its allies AGP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) hold one each. The remaining seat is held by an Independent member.

After the Trinamool Congress’ Sushmita Dev, who was elected to the Upper House of Parliament from West Bengal, Purkayastha would be the second Rajya Sabha member from the Barak Valley region in Assam.

Hailing from Silchar, Dev, daughter of former Union Minister and late Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha from Silchar parliamentary constituency.

Over four million people, mostly Bengali speaking, reside in the three districts of the Barak Valley region in Southern Assam -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi.

Political observers said that despite the Barak Valley’s substantial population and political significance, only former four-time MLA Mission Ranjan Das was sent to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket for a brief period.

Purkayastha’s nomination is an attempt to deal with this gap and aims to strengthen the BJP’s base among Bengali Hindus in Barak Valley.

The Purkayastha family has been influential in Assam’s political circle as veteran leader Kabindra Purkayastha’s legacy and Kanad’s active participation in the BJP’s political activities contribute to the family’s persistent prominence in Assam politics.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Pranav S.
Good to see representation from Barak Valley finally getting its due! The Bengali-speaking population has been politically significant but often overlooked. Hope Kanad Purkayastha lives up to his father's legacy 🤞
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Ananya R.
While it's good to have unopposed elections, I wish opposition parties had at least contested. Healthy democracy needs debate and alternatives. This feels like a walkover rather than a true representation of people's choice.
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Rohit K.
Baishya ji is an experienced hand. His return to Rajya Sabha for third term shows people's trust in him. But new faces like Kanad should also get opportunities - balance of youth and experience is important for Assam's development 🇮🇳
M
Meera P.
Interesting to see BJP strengthening its base in Barak Valley. But hope this isn't just political calculation - the region needs real development work, not just symbolic representation. Roads, hospitals and jobs matter more than political dynasties!
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Siddharth G.
As someone from Silchar, I'm happy to see our region getting attention. But let's not forget - both major candidates come from political families. When will common people without political backgrounds get such opportunities? 🤔
N
Neha T.
The unopposed election shows NDA's stronghold in Assam, but I hope the elected representatives remember they serve ALL citizens, not just their vote bank. Assam's diversity needs inclusive leadership 🙏

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