BJP names Sarbananda Sonowal, L Murugan as candidates for RS bypolls in Assam, MP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday anunced its candidates for upcoming Rajya Sabha byelections in Assam and Mhya Presh. party informed in a press release, on September 18, that BJP has named Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sowal as party candidate for Assam and Minister of State (MoS) Dr L Murugan as candidate for Mhya Presh. 

tably, both ministers were recently inducted to Union Cabinet by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, necessitating ir election to Parliament within six months. As BJP has a majority in both state Assemblies, ir election to Rajya Sabha is almost certain.

Rajya Sabha bypolls for 6 seats in 5 states

Five states with six casual vacancies are going to polls namely- West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nu, Maharashtra and Mhya Presh. Among se, re are two vacancies in Tamil Nu after AIMK's KP Munuswamy and Vaithiyalingam resigned as members of State Assembly. or states, have one vacancy each.

West Bengal is going to polls for Rajya Sabha seat left vacant by Manas Ranjan Bhunia. leer h resigned as Rajya Sabha MP in May. Maharashtra is going to by-polls for seat of Rajeev Shankarrao Satav who passed away on May 16, after contracting COVID-19. Mhya Presh is polling on seat of Thaawarchand Gehlot who resigned and took oath as 19th Goverr of Karnataka in July. Assam is holding elections for seat of Biswajit Daimary.

On September 9, Thursday, Election Commission of India anunced dates for by-elections to six Rajya Sabha seats in five states. 

Candidates can file ir minations till September 22. elections will be held on October 4. Voting will be held between 9 AM to 5 PM and counting of votes will be held same day starting from 5 PM. 

Meanwhile, Election Commission instructed all states to follow  "bro guidelines" for COVID-19 throughout  election process, to avoid spre of coronavirus infection as country remains threatened by a possible third COVID-19 wave. 

(With inputs from PTI, Im: ANI/PTI)