Dibrugarh sees fall of a heavyweight, former Union Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar

Lok Sabha election

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: Unprecedented in the annals of political history of Tinsukia/Dibrugarh, one of strongest erstwhile Congress bastions, Paban Singh Ghatowar, the 5-time MP (1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2009) and former Union Minister could garner only 29.04 per cent vote in 2019 election. His debacle was imminent and was well anticipated by political analysts much before the 1st phase of polling after most of his cash strapped party workers including District Congress Committee distanced him from electioneering process.

In 2009, Sarbananda Sonowal was trailed by a margin of just 35143 votes and set the alarm bell ringing for Paban Singh Ghatowar, a sign of impending disaster which neither Congress High Command nor he could foresee. In 2014 election, Rameswar Teli (BJP) defeated Ghatowar by 185347 votes and Teli almost doubled his margin in 2019 (364566). It is now certain that the tea tribe votes that constituted 35% along with Bengali vote banks who were traditional Congress supporters shifted their allegiance towards BJP. Teli, who won almost uncontested this time, admitted that Ghatowar’s candidature not only paved the way for higher margin but also relieved him from stress and tension.

With NOTA securing 2.12 per cent (21228), the results of the contesting candidates in 13 Dibrugarh HPC are Paban Singh Ghatowar(INC)-295017, Rameswar Teli (BJP)-659583(winner), Bhaben Baruah (NPP) and former AGP Minister-9718, Rubul Buragohain (Ind)-8112, Dr Titus Bhengra (BMUP)-6933, Israil Nanda(Ind)-5687, Narul Huda Imadul Islam Saikia (Ind)-5599 and Apurba Saikia(Ind)-3811. Barring Ghatowar all have forfeited their security deposits.

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