Guwahati, March 21 (IANS) Two candidates of the ruling Congress in Assam -- former ministers Ripun Bora and Ranee Narah -- on Monday won the elections for two Rajya Sabha seats.
A total of 86 legislators cast their votes. While former state education minister Bora got 38 votes, former union minister Narah got 47 votes.
The Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) -- which runs the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) -- had backed businessman Mahavit Jain, who filed his nomination as an independent candidate.
Although the current strength of the Congress in the assembly is 70 -- including two AIUDF legislators who recently joined the Congress -- two legislators did not vote.
Congress legislator from Digboi Rameswar Dhanowar could not make it due to ill health. Party Duliajan legislator Amiya Gogoi also did not turn up.
Besides, 16 AIUDF legislators, one independent and one BJP legislator also voted.
"We voted for the Congress candidate as we want to prevent the BJP from passing some of the anti-people bills brought by the party in the Rajya Sabha. We do not have any understanding with the Congress," said AIUDF legislator Abdur Rahim Khan.
The rest of the BJP and Asom Gana Parishad legislators abstained from voting. The BPF also abstained.
