Guwahati, Sept 21: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday filed nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-polls in Assam.

The Union Minister for Shipping, Ports, Waterways and Ayush, Sonowal currently represents the Majuli Assembly constituency in Assam Legislative Assembly.

Sonowal filed his nomination papers at the Assembly Secretariat in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, Agriculture Minister and AGP president Atul Bora, Handloom and Textile Minister UG Brahma and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika.BTC chief and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro and Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita were also present during the filing of nomination papers by Sonowal.

Arrangement for Himanta as Assam CM and Sonowal as Union Minister

After the BJP-led alliance came to power in Assam, the party high command announced Himanta Biswa Sarma, who served as the Finance and Health Minister during the Sonowal regime, as the Chief Minister of the state.

After Himanta Biswa Sarma, the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), became the Chief Minister of Assam, Sonowal was made a Cabinet Minister in Narendra Modi’s Ministry,  which he expanded earlier this year.

The Rajya Sabha by-polls in Assam is slated for October 4, 2021.

Rajya Sabha by-poll

The Rajya Sabha seat was vacated by Biswajit Daimary, the current Assembly speaker, who contested the last Assembly election on a BJP ticket after switching from the Bodoland People’s Front (BJP). He won the Legislative Assembly on BJP ticket in Assembly elections 2021, and was elected as Speaker of the new Assembly.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked alliance partners and the Opposition for extending their support to Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Union Minister is expected to win the election unopposed as the Opposition has not announced any candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-polls.