BJP names two from eastern Assam as RS poll candidates

Assam’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) named Culture Minister Jogen Mohan and MLA Terash Gowala as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 16.

Three Rajya Sabha seats from Assam are falling vacant after Bhubaneswar Kalita and Rameswar Teli of the BJP, along with independent Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, retire in April.

The nomination of Mr. Mohan, an Ahom, and Mr. Gowala, an Adivasi or “Tea Tribes” leader, is considered significant in poll-bound Assam. Both are from eastern Assam and belong to communities demanding Scheduled Tribe status.

The Ahoms and Advisasis form the bulk of voters in the eastern half of Assam, from where the BJP won most of its seats in 2016 and 2021. The BJP has been concentrating on this region, where it is facing a challenge from a combined opposition.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Mr. Mohan and Mr. Gowala on securing the BJP’s nomination for the elections to the Upper House. He said the two, coming from the grassroots, demonstrated a track record of public service.

“I am confident that they will make valuable contributions to enrich the parliamentary processes,” he said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Nitin Nabin for the “exceptional nominations.”

The Chief Minister told journalists in eastern Assam’s Golaghat that the duo would file their nominations on March 5.

The BJP has offered the third seat to its ally, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).

“The UPPL has informed us that its candidate might contest, but has not conveyed its final decision. If [UPPL president] Pramod Boro or anyone else files nomination for the third seat, we will not oppose it,” he said.

He said the BJP could not win the third seat as it did not have the numbers.

The UPPL said it would contest the polls. “Our party will contest the polls, but we have not decided on our candidate yet. We will discuss the matter and take a call by tomorrow [Wednesday],” Mr. Boro said.

Support from the opposition MLAs will be crucial to the UPPL candidate’s victory.

Earlier, the Chief Minister said Mr. Teli, one of the three Elders nearing the end of their terms, could be the BJP’s candidate for the Duliajan Assembly seat.

Mr. Gowala represents Duliajan. Mr. Mohan represents the Mahmora seat.