Sonowal Elected Unopposed To Rajya Sabha From Assam

GUWAHATI: Union minister for ports, shipping and Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Assam on Monday.

Sonowal, the lone candidate in the fray for the seat, was declared elected to the Upper House of Parliament by the returning officer, who is also the principal secretary of Assam Legislative Assembly on the last day of withdrawal of nomination.

“With the blessings of the people of Assam, I have been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam. I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji, HM Shri @AmitShah ji, @BJP4India President Shri @JPNadda ji and Shri @blsanthosh ji for giving me the opportunity to further serve the state & nation,” Sonowal said in a tweet.

“My gratitude to CM Shri @himantabisw , @BJP4Assa President Shri @Bhabesh_Kalita and all members from both the Ruling and Opposition parties of Assam Legislative Assembly for their support and good wishes,” he tweeted.

Interacting with media persons, Sonowal said he will continue to work for the betterment of the state and its people. He thanked the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national president JP Nadda, Union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Sarma, for their support towards him.

Now, the strength of the saffron party in the Upper House from Assam increased to three, while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has one member in the Rajya Sabha.

Of the seven Rajya Sabha seats in the state, two of the remaining seats are held by the Congress and one by an Independent MP.

Sonowal, accompanied by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, collected the election certificate from the returning officer.

Sonowal was inducted as the Union minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet in July, necessitating his entry into Parliament.

Sonowal had filed his nomination against the Rajya Sabha seat that had fallen vacant after Assam Legislative Assembly speaker Biswajit Daimary resigned from the Upper House, following his election to the state assembly earlier this year.

Sonowal was also elected to the state assembly from Majuli for the second consecutive term in May, but he returned to New Delhi after Sarma was made the chief minister.

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