BJP Sarbananda Sonowal
Sarbananda Sonowal

The BJP on Saturday nominated Union minister and former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and minister of state L Murugan for the Rajya Sabha by-election slated for October 4.

While Sonowal, who is the incumbent Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways, will be the nominee for the seat that has fallen vacant from Assam, Murugan will be the party’s nominee for the vacancy that has arisen in Madhya Pradesh.

Both leaders need to be elected to the Rajya Sabha in order to continue their current roles in the government.

In Assam, the by-poll was necessitated after BJP member Biswajit Daimary resigned from the Upper house.

Daimary is now the Speaker of the assembly in Assam.

Five of the six Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant after the resignation of members from West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.