Guwahati, 13 June (HS): Both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates from Assam, Kanad Purkayastha of Bharatiya Janata Party and Birendra Prasad Baishya of Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), have been elected uncontested to the Rajya Sabha. This was confirmed on Friday when no one from the opposition filed a nomination despite the last date of nomination passing on Thursday.

Kanad Purkayastha of BJP and Birendra Prasad Baishya of Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) have been declared elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha, as there is no opposition candidate. The upcoming election for both the Rajya Sabha seats was to be held on June 19.

Kanad Purkayastha has become a member of the Rajya Sabha for the first time. He is the son of senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha and hails from Silchar. Kanad Purkayastha is currently the secretary of the state unit of BJP.

Senior AGP leader and former Union Minister Baishya has been elected as a member of Rajya Sabha for the third time. He has also been a Lok Sabha member. Elections were to be held for two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam as the term of Baishya and BJP's Ranjan Das ended on June 14.

It is worth mentioning that out of the seven Rajya Sabha seats in Assam, four are with BJP, one seat is with ally AGP and one seat is with ally UPPL. One is occupied by an independent.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash