Kanad Purkayastha. Photo: Facebook/Kanad Purkayastha

GUWAHATI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Kanad Purkayastha, son of former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha, for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam that will fall vacant on June 14.

Mr. Kanad Purkayastha, a secretary of the BJP’s Assam unit, is the son of Kabindra Purkayastha, a founding leader of the party in the State during the 1990s who served as Minister of State in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government.

The BJP’s national general secretary, Arun Singh, issued the notification announcing the nomination on Saturday.

Elections for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam are scheduled for June 19. Earlier, the BJP had declared that it would leave the other seat for the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), its ruling ally in the State.

Expressing gratitude to the party leadership, Mr. Purkayastha wrote on a social media platform, “This gesture is not just an acknowledgement of my dedication and service to the party, but also a reaffirmation of the values we uphold – commitment, integrity, and selfless service.”

He added, “I remain ever committed to the ideals of our party and the progress and unity of our beloved state and nation. My sincere gratitude to my party leaders, Himanta Biswa Sarma ji, our State president Dilip Saikia ji and all karyakartas for their blessings and good wishes.”

Dilip Saikia, State BJP president, welcomed the nomination, saying, “He has long served the party in various capacities, and, as a member of an ideologically committed family since childhood, has consistently worked with devotion. He is expected to strongly represent the aspirations of the people of Assam and uphold the principles and vision of the BJP in the Upper House of Parliament.”