Latest news with #KabindraPurkayastha
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP names Kanad for RS seat, AGP likely to announce nominee soon
1 2 3 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Orlando: How Much Does It Cost To Install Windows In 2025? Storm Through Windows Learn More Undo "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.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BJP names Kanad Purkayastha as candidate for Assam Rajya Sabha polls
Guwahati: The BJP on Saturday announced that the party's Assam state secretary Kanad Purkayastha would be its candidate for the June 19 Rajya Sabha election from the state. BJP's National General Secretary Arun Singh, in a statement, said the party's central election committee has approved the candidature of Purkayastha, who is currently the party's Assam state secretary. A party leader from southern Assam's Barak valley said that Purkayastha is the only son of veteran BJP leader and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha. Elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam are scheduled on June 19, with counting of votes set to take place the same day. The last date for filling of nominations is June 9, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 12. The ruling BJP had earlier announced that it would field a candidate for one of the seats, leaving the other seat to its ally, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam would be vacated after the retirement of Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) and Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) on June 14. Assam has seven Rajya Sabha seats. After 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. 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, no leader from this region, adjoining Tripura, has previously been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. 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.
