In politics, nothing happens by accident. If something happens, one can bet it was planned in the same way. In his early forties, Azizul Haque from Morigaon, Assam certainly has plans of his own when it comes to politics. Chhota Azizul, wearing a long, flowing yellow kurta and a bunch of files in his hand, was seen roaming the streets of Dispur’s MLA Colony. They used to stand in front of the gates to look for spectators with the MLAs or wait for the arrival of a minister’s vehicle in search of an opportunity to meet them for a specific reason.
“I have all the files and papers. I have collected the nomination papers. I am planning to contest Rajya Sabha elections and give tough competition to Sarbananda Sonowal. I need the signatures of the members of the Legislative Assembly for my nomination. Most of them are in their respective fields and ministers are busy. I want to meet him immediately. I will file my nomination as per the Constitution of the country and the President of the country,” said a confident Azizul.
Union minister and former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal filed his nomination on September 21 and is set to be elected unopposed after the opposition decided not to field any candidate against him for the Rajya Sabha seat. Sonowal, along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita and leaders of allies AGP and UPPL, filed his papers in the assembly before Returning Officer Dulal Pegu. The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after Speaker Biswajit Daimary resigned from the upper house after being elected to the assembly last April.
Azizul, a farmer by profession who is two and a half feet tall, says his expectations are high.
“Nowadays you need to manage MLAs. I have about 13 bighas of agricultural land and have a bank account. I think I have enough balance to contest the elections. I understand that money is needed to contest elections today. I have passed my class 10th and this will be enough for the requirement.”
While roaming the streets of the minister’s colony in the scorching sun, Azizul barely realized that September 22 was the last date for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha elections and he did not have much time. The results of the elections will be declared on October 4.
Assam provides seven seats to the Upper House, of which six are currently held – two each by the BJP (Bhubaneswar Kalita and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa) and the Congress (Ripun Bora and Rani Nara), one AGP (Birendra Prasad Vaish) and one. Independent Ajit. Kumar brothers.
(With inputs from Biju Deka, News18 Assam)
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