
BJP names Kanad for RS seat, AGP likely to announce nominee soon
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Guwahati: The BJP on Saturday named Kanad Purkayastha, son of former Union minister and BJP Assam co-founder Kabindra Purkayastha, as their Rajya Sabha candidate.
CM
Himanta Biswa Sarma
voiced certainty about NDA winning both Rajya Sabha seats, which become vacant this month when current members Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) and Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) complete their terms on June 14.
Of Assam's seven Rajya Sabha seats, BJP currently holds four, while AGP, UPPL, and an Independent member occupy one each.
Nominations close on June 9, with scrutiny scheduled for June 10. Polling will be held on June 19, followed by vote counting that evening.
BJP's alliance partner, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), is set to announce their candidate shortly. Despite multiple contenders from both senior and junior ranks, long-standing member Birendra Prasad Baishya remains the likely choice, according to party insiders.
Himanta highlighted Barak Valley's significance in BJP's Assam growth, predicting 10-11 BJP victories from the region's 14 seats in the 2026 assembly election. "Kanad Purkayastha has been nominated by BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. Perhaps AGP will also announce the name of its candidate. We are hopeful of winning both the seats from Assam," Sarma said.
Upon reaching Guwahati, Kanad expressed his desire to support the chief minister's vision for Assam's development.
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"Those who sincerely work in BJP, he or she will get due honours in the right time," he said.
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia welcomed Purkayastha's nomination. Currently serving as Assam Pradesh BJP secretary, Purkayastha has been actively involved since the 1980s. Saikia thanked BJP's central leadership for the selection.
"Purkayastha has long served the party in various capacities and, as a member of an ideologically committed family since childhood, has consistently worked with devotion.
As the son of the party's highly respected guide and veteran leader Kabindra Purkayastha, Kanad is expected to strongly represent the aspirations of the people of Assam and uphold the principles and vision of the BJP in the Upper House of Parliament," Saikia said.
In the 126-member assembly, BJP holds 62 seats, while AGP has nine and UPPL possesses seven. BJP anticipates support from Hagrama Mohilary's BPF in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election.
On Saturday, Himanta said, "We have our good wishes for Hagrama Mohilary because he (his party) also votes for us in the Rajya Sabha election. We do not want to go into conflict with Bodo political parties. We will march ahead in our path, taking all as friends," Sarma said.
Guwahati: The BJP on Saturday named Kanad Purkayastha, son of former Union minister and BJP Assam co-founder Kabindra Purkayastha, as their Rajya Sabha candidate.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma voiced certainty about NDA winning both Rajya Sabha seats, which become vacant this month when current members Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) and Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) complete their terms on June 14. Of Assam's seven Rajya Sabha seats, BJP currently holds four, while AGP, UPPL, and an Independent member occupy one each.
Nominations close on June 9, with scrutiny scheduled for June 10. Polling will be held on June 19, followed by vote counting that evening.
BJP's alliance partner, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), is set to announce their candidate shortly. Despite multiple contenders from both senior and junior ranks, long-standing member Birendra Prasad Baishya remains the likely choice, according to party insiders.
Himanta highlighted Barak Valley's significance in BJP's Assam growth, predicting 10-11 BJP victories from the region's 14 seats in the 2026 assembly election.
"Kanad Purkayastha has been nominated by BJP for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. Perhaps AGP will also announce the name of its candidate. We are hopeful of winning both the seats from Assam," Sarma said.
Upon reaching Guwahati, Kanad expressed his desire to support the chief minister's vision for Assam's development. "Those who sincerely work in BJP, he or she will get due honours in the right time," he said.
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia welcomed Purkayastha's nomination.
Currently serving as Assam Pradesh BJP secretary, Purkayastha has been actively involved since the 1980s. Saikia thanked BJP's central leadership for the selection.
"Purkayastha has long served the party in various capacities and, as a member of an ideologically committed family since childhood, has consistently worked with devotion. As the son of the party's highly respected guide and veteran leader Kabindra Purkayastha, Kanad is expected to strongly represent the aspirations of the people of Assam and uphold the principles and vision of the BJP in the Upper House of Parliament," Saikia said.
In the 126-member assembly, BJP holds 62 seats, while AGP has nine and UPPL possesses seven. BJP anticipates support from Hagrama Mohilary's BPF in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha election.
On Saturday, Himanta said, "We have our good wishes for Hagrama Mohilary because he (his party) also votes for us in the Rajya Sabha election. We do not want to go into conflict with Bodo political parties. We will march ahead in our path, taking all as friends," Sarma said.

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