Congress aims to win all three Rajya Sabha seats in Assam

The ruling Congress in Assam has chalked out a strategy to win all three Rajya Sabha seats in the state, polling for which will take place Feb 7, party leaders said Wednesday.

The three seats will fall vacant April 9. They are currently held by state Congress president Bhubaneswar Kalita, Bodoland People's Front leader Biswajeet Daimary and Asom Gana Parishad's Birendra Prasad Baishya.

According to the Election Commission, Jan 28 is the last date for filing of nominations, while scrutiny of nominations will take place Jan 29 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations is Jan 31.

Political experts said the opposition was unlikely to secure even a single seat this time as there is no unity among the opposition parties. They also failed to put up any consensus candidate in the last polls.

Congress leaders, however, said the party was in touch with the All India United Democratic Front and independent legislators to ensure a win for the party on all three seats.

The Congress is short of only eight votes to win all three seats.

The poll will be held between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Feb 7, said a statement issued by the state government Wednesday.

The election process will be completed before Feb 10, it said.