Ex-CM Sonowal, Murugan BJP pick for RS bypoll

New Delhi, September 18

The BJP today named Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and L Murugan as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha bypolls in Assam and Madhya Pradesh, respectively, according to a party statement.

Both leaders were recently inducted into his Council of Ministers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which necessitated their elections to Parliament in six months.

Their election to the Rajya Sabha is all but certain as the BJP has a majority in the both state Assemblies. In Assam, the BJP-led ruling coalition has an effective strength of 73 MLAs in the 126-member House.

In Assam, a Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after Biswajit Daimary resigned to become the Assembly Speaker.

In Madhya Pradesh, the vacancy emerged after then Union Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot resigned following his appointment as the Karnataka Governor. Sonowal will file his nomination on September 21. — TNS