2016 assembly poll tickets: BJP stares at problem of plenty in Duliajan constituency

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

DULIAJAN, August 5: Various political parties like Asom Ga Parishad (AGP), Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP), Indian tiol Congress (INC) are busy for the 2016 Assembly poll in 118 Duliajan legislative assembly constituency since the last few months.

Amiya Gogoi was elected in 2011 assembly election from 118 Duliajan constituency as a Congress candidate by defeating BJP candidate Rameswar Telly by a margin of 3,625 votes. In 2014 Lok Sabha election,  BJP candidate Rameswar Telly won the prestigious Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat by defeating Congress candidate Paban Singh Ghatowar by a margin of  almost 1,85,000 votes. From Duliajan legislative assembly constituency, for two consecutive terms in 2001 and 2006, Rameswar Telly won the seat with a vast margin of votes but after becoming MP, no strong BJP candidate has emerged to fill the seat left vacant by Telly.

Many leaders like Prafulla Gogoi, former leader of AASU, Asom Yuba Parishad, AGP, Hiren Gogoi, former president of Duliajan Anchalik Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and District Executive member, Daisy Shyam Phukan, two time elected from Bhadoi ZPC, Indra Gogoi, president of Duliajan Block, Bhupen Saikia, former vice-president of Axam Xahitya Xabha and Head of Department in History, Duliajan College, Baikuntha Gogoi, Suborno Gogoi, Loken Gogoi, established businessman of Duliajan and Jitu Hazarika are preparing to contest with BJP ticket in the Duliajan constituency. Against this large number of BJP candidates, from the Congress only Amiya Gogoi can be seen as a contender and from the AGP no likely candidate can be seen who will contest from the Duliajan constituency.

A large number of youths are joining the BJP which is a good sign for the party but party sources said that senior members of the BJP in Duliajan are feeling threatened. Obviously the party can give ticket to only candidate and this might lead to infighting within the party. This opportunity might by grabbed by the Congress to win the seat. According to sources, maximum votes from tea estates under Duliajan constituency have been diverted to BJP after Rameswar Telly was elected MP from Dibrugarh Lok Sabha in 2014.