| Will Azad try for Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat ? | | One Rajya seat in Gujarat fell vacant following the death of Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel on November 25, 2020. His term was up to August 18, 2023. Election for this seat is going to be held on March 1. | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 6: As his term as Rajya Sabha member will come to an end on February 15, Congress stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad will be trying his best to get re-elected from Gujarat where by-elections for two Rajya Sabha seats will be held on March 1.
Wishing anonymity, a Jammu based loyalist of Azad told The Early Times that leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha will try to get mandate for one Rajya Sabha seat so as to remain active in the national politics.
One Rajya seat in Gujarat fell vacant following the death of Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel on November 25, 2020. His term was up to August 18, 2023.
“Being a Muslim face of the party Azad will stake his claim on the seat which fell vacant following death of Ahmed Patel”, sources said and added that it was difficult for the Congress high-command to deny mandate to a stalwart like Azad on the same seat. “Azad is confident to get elected from the same Rajya Sabha seat”, sources said and added that senior leaders within party are also lobbying for Azad.
Sources said that Congress high command is very much aware that due winning Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat is not possible so party would field a stalwart like Azad to counter BJP’s designs. Due to numbers in the Gujarat Assembly BJP will easily win one seat but Congress is not in a position to win second seat easily.
As reported earlier, after writing a letter before the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Azad has already adopted an assertive approach to show his strength to the high-command.
Azad, one of the signatories of the letter that sought a leadership change in the party, has now called for internal elections and said that a president appointed without one may not even have 1% support of the leaders.
Bye-elections to three Rajya Sabha seats – two from Gujarat and one from Assam – would be held on March 1.
One seat in Gujarat fell vacant following the death Ahmed Patel and second was vacated due to the death of Abhay Ganpatray Bhardwaj on December 1. His term was up to June 26, 2026.
The Assam seat was vacated by Biswajit Daimary after his resignation on November 21, 2020. His term was valid till April 9, 2026. |
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