BJP to contest one RS seat from Assam, leave the other for AGP

GUWAHATI: Keeping its word to ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), BJP will contest one of two Rajya Sabha seats and leave the other to its regional partner. Election to the Rajya Sabha will be held on June 7.
"The preliminary discussions are over. In all likelihood, we will leave one seat for AGP. We will contest the other seat," Sarma said after he and AGP president Atul Bora met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday. BJP is likely to announce its candidate on Monday. Bora said AGP will field former Union minister and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Birendra Prasad Baishya.
As part of the deal struck for AGP's return to the NDA before the Lok Sabha election, BJP had promised to leave one Rajya Sabha seat and three Lok Sabha seats for the regional party. AGP had walked out of the alliance after differences over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The BJP-led three-party alliance, with BPF, has enough numbers in the state assembly to capture both seats. Dismissing reports that BJP may field Ram Vilas Paswan, Sarma said, "There is no question of fielding anyone from outside the state. Our candidate will be from Assam." The statement could also apply to former PM Manmohan Singh, who was never seen as a representative of the state or the region in the Upper House. His seat and the one held by Santiuse Kujur will fall vacant on June 14 and are up for election.