The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections have gained prominence among the socio-political society in Assam as well as Northeast at large. The candidates have been declared by the respective parties.
The Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) has decided to throw its hat in the Rajya Sabha biennial election from the state according to media reports, even while the BJP has already announced nomination of S Phangnon Konyak for the lone seat.
Tripura BJP nominated its state unit president Manik Saha as the party’s candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the Northeastern state. The CPM’s Tripura unit has announced sitting MLA and former finance minister Bhanulal Saha as its candidate.
Assam Congress has named Former Party President Ripun Bora as the candidate, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named its spokesperson Pabitra Margherita for the same. There are two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, the elections to which are on March 31.
While BJP has named its spokesperson Pabitra Margherita for one of the two seats, the other is for its alliance partner United Peoples Party Liberal’s (UPPL) candidate Rwngwra Narzary, who will contest for the next.
According to the constitutional provisions relating to Rajya Sabha, the composition or strength is “Article 80 of the Constitution lays down the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as 250, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President and 238 are representatives of the States and of the two Union Territories.”
Also, “The present strength of Rajya Sabha, however, is 245, out of which 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi and Puducherry and 12 are nominated by the President. The members nominated by the President are persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service.”
