Congress likely to face anti-incumbency wave in Digboi

From our Correspondent

TINSUKIA, March 30: The saffron brigade in 123 Digboi constituency is likely to trample down the Dhanwar dysty in the ensuing battle of ballots. Digboi and its surrounding areas have not changed notably during the past 40 years of Rameswar Dhanwar’s rule as an MLA and minister.

A vast majority of Digboi voters believe that the present Congress candidate Gautam Dhanwar will follow the trail of his father Rameswar Dhanwar. The anti-incumbency factor is to be reckoned with as the literate and elite voters desire some changes in the existing scerio. Some voters maintained that they might even opt for NOTA as selection of Congress candidate Gautam Dhanwar was improper even as the constituency had a better and popular candidate like Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah who was denied ticket.

The BJP candidate Suren Phukan, on the other hand, despite losing to Rameswar Dhanwar in the last two elections with almost same margin, is now in a comfortable position after several thousand voters from a particular community reportedly shifted their allegiance towards BJP. Modi’s visit too has influenced the public towards an altertive choice. While Suren Phukan camp is trying hard to win over the confidence of public, Gautam Dhanwar who is maintaining a low profile till now. He might be looking for a penultimate opportunity to utilize the traditiol Congress wisdom to woo gullible voters.

Among the five constituencies in Tinsukia district, the Digboi LAC has highest number of educated voters who are being employed in IOC (AOD), educatiol institutions and other establishments, many of whom abstained from electoral processes in the past which resulted sweeping of votes towards traditiol vote banks in favour of Congress. In the urban area of Digboi, particularly industrial belt, the turnout never exceeded more than 45 per cent whereas tea garden areas comprising 18 gardens including Powai, Bogapani, Hollonghati, turnout always remained more than 80 per cent.

The Sentinel interacted with a cross-section of urbanites particularly from IOC and educatiol institutions who opined that this time turnout will be definitely high as voters desired to seek a change in Digboi. Cross-voting and dummy players as Independents might cause backlash.  Sources said that among eight candidates quite a few are dummy candidates who are in the fray under the banner of recognized political parties.

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