If Rahul Gandhi continues as a president of Congress, surely it will be helpful for BJP: Himanta Biswa Sarma

He said," From BJP’s point of view, we will wish that, Rahul Gandhi should continue as a Congress president at least for next 50 years."

“For a vibrant democracy, you need an opposition. Because BJP believes that, in our parliament there should be space for opposition. So, if there is no Rahul Gandhi, then there is a possibility that a vibrant opposition in parliament in days to come. But, if Rahul Gandi continues then there is no hope for opposition. So, I look from BJP’s point of view, not from India’s point of view, we will wish that, Rahul Gandhi should continue as a Congress president at least for next 50 years,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

“So, we wish that, let a opposition emerged, who actually criticised the government, where need to be criticised. A constructive opposition is needed within the parliament. But with Rahul Gandhi, you will not see that in next 50 years,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

On the other hand, Senior leader of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and former Union Minister Birendra Prasad Baishya and outgoing Jorhat BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa on Tuesday had filed their nominations for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam.          

Two of seven Rajya Sabha seats of Assam will be vacated after the six-year tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Santiuse Kujur – both of Congress – ends on June 14.

BJP has contested in one seat and its ally party AGP contested in the other seat.

Birendra Prasad Baishya and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, who won the Jorhat Lok Sabha seat in 2014 were accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, covenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, AGP president Atul Bora, Assam state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Bodoland People’s Front leader and Assam minister Chandan Brahma and other BJP, AGP, BPF MLAs.

The Election Commission has announced elections on June 7 to fill the two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam, one of which is represented by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the other by Santiuse Kujur, also a Congress member.

Singh has been representing Assam in the Upper House since 1991.

In the 126-member Assam assembly, Congress has only 25 MLAs compared to the combined 87 MLAs of ruling alliance which is made up of 61 from BJP, 14 from Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and 12 from Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has 12 MLAs while there is an independent MLA who is lending his support to the ruling alliance.

If the Congress and AIUDF have come together with a consensus candidate, they cannot ensure for victory as they have not the required number of MLAs.

A candidate will need at least 43 first preference votes to win a Rajya Sabha seat.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)