Congress has lost the Rajya Sabha seat to BJP after it has suspended MLA Siddique Ahmed from the primary membership of the party after he “deliberately disobeyed the three-line whip”, issued by the grand old party.
In the first seat, BJP candidate Pabitra Margherita won unopposed. The contest was for the second seat which was between UPPLs Rwngwra Narzary and Congress candidate Ripun Bora. Narzary was supported by BJP while the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) was supporting Bora.
The two Rajya Sabha seats were earlier held by Congress members Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah. BJP candidate Pabitra Margherita secured 46 votes while its ally UPPL’s candidate Rwngwra Narzary secured 44 votes. Congress candidate Ripun Bora secured 35 votes whereas 1 vote was cancelled. As per reports, the vote count for Congress reduced after the party suspended Ahmed for allegedly wasting his vote by writing “One” instead of “1” on the ballot paper.
“We have suspended Siddique Ahmed from the primary membership of our party after he deliberately disobeyed the three-line whip issued by the party,” said Bhupen Bora, President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).