Tough contest between BJP and Congress likely in Lakhimpur HPC

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: As the first phase poll of 17th general election of India on April 11 is drawing close, speculations among the political observers and party activists have increased regarding the winner of the Lakhimpur HPC in the ensuing election.

The Lakhimpur HPC is said to be one of the most politically active and vibrant constituencies in the State being located in a critical demographic and geographic area. The HPC had been under the dominance of Indian National Congress (INC) most of the time since 1967. In that year, INC candidate, Biswanarayan Shastri, who was a scholar of repute, emerged as the first MP of the HPC. He was potent enough to be the winner of the constituency in 1971 too. Then the HPC was won by INC candidate Lalit Kumar Doley in 1977, Asom Gana Parishad candidate Gakul Saikia in 1985, INC candidate Balin Kuli in1991, AGP candidate Arun Kumar Sarmah in 1996, INC candidate Ranee Narah in 1998 and 1999, Arun Kumar Sarmah in 2004 and again INC candidate Ranee Narah in 2009.

In the general election held in 2014, the Lakhimpur HPC went to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the first time as the party candidate Sarbananda Sonowal won the election bagging 6,12,543 votes against INC candidate Ranee Narah who became the runners- up securing 3,20,405 votes. In 2016, Sarbananda Sonowal quit from the Parliament and by-election was inevitable in the constituency. BJP candidate Pradan Baruah kept on the party’s dominance over the constituency in the by-poll in which he secured 5,51,663 votes against INC candidate Dr Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu who achieved 3,61,444 votes in a bilateral contest.

In the ensuing 17th House of People poll, the possibility of a bilateral contest is increasing at present in the HPC. Though the number of the candidates in fray in the election of the HPC is 11 with Anil Borgohain of INC, Anup Pratim Baruah of Nationalist Congress Party, Amiya Kumar Hundique of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Arup Kalita of Communist Party of India, Pradan Baruah of BJP, Ubaidur Rahman of Asom Jana Marcha, Dilip Moran of Assam Dristi Party, Bhupen Narah of Voter’s Party International, Hem Kanta Miri of Socialist Unity Center of India (Communist), and independent candidates Ambaz Uddin and Prabhu Lal Vaisnava, the main contest will be between BJP and Congress. However, BJP candidate Pradan Baruah will face challenge due to anti-incumbency stand of Tai Ahom organizations regarding the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

Similarly, a section of Congress workers is maintaining a neutral stand, being unsatisfied with the allotment of party ticket to established businessman Anil Borgohain who is not a widely known person across the constituency. On the other hand, Arup Kalita of CPI and Amiya Kumar Hundique of CPI (M) will emerge in the HPC as crucial factors in the election.

The HPC comprises of nine assembly fragments - Majuli, Naoboicha, Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Dhemaji, Jonai, Chabua, Doomdooma and Sadiya and a total of 16,81,434 voters - 8,56,511 male and 8,24,870 female- will cast their franchise in the election. The LAC wise distribution of these voters are- Majuli-1,25016, Naoboicha-2,01,891, Lakhimpur-1,74,825, Dhakuakhona-1,94,043, Dhemaji-2,35,986, Jonai-2,84,023, Chabua-1,49,319, Doom-dooma-1,41,520, and Sadiya-1,75,211.

Also read: Assam news