Turncoat politicians find berth in Cachar BJP

SILCHAR: Unpredictable is the moves of politicians of all hues and this is the bane of multiparty system of India. Politics of convenience and expediency was in the forefront when the much talked of Congress MLA of Lakhipur constituency switched over to BJP formally after much dilly-dally and rumour mongering in the local media. Rumi Nath former INC legislator of Borkhola too followed suit and embraced saffron fold, much to the chagrin of leaders and workers of the party. Father and son duo of Barak politics, Gautom Roy, former minister, and Rahul Roy, former MLA, of Congress, have been searching for safe political moorings after being rejected by people of Katlicherra and Algapur seats by AIUDF in 2016.

All these Congress politicians have found easy access in Cachar BJP due mainly to the backing of the most charismatic personality of Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, heavyweight Minister, the architect and guide of the party. The Machiavellian politician has the overriding quality to win over and draw in to saffron fold the opponents. Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma is on record to say, "More from Congress are ready to come." This has caused ripples and flutter in Congress hierarchy. The lone crusader Sushmita Dev, former MP and All India Mahila Morcha President of Congress, is maintaining silence. There is no cause of comfort in BJP camps either. Causes are not far to seek.

No eye- brows are however raised over the entry of Rajdeep Goala. Rather, he is a big gain for BJP for his clean image. After the sudden demise of his father Dinesh Prasad Goala in 2012, a record setter as 7 time winner as Congress MLA from Lakhipur, Rajdeep won in the by election of 2014 and general election of 2016, holding high the legacy of his father. He was not happy with Congress for its stand on CAA as he himself said. He is the sure candidate of BJP and also the sure shot for the party in 2021. But, certainly he is a big shock for Cachar district BJP president, Kaushik Rai, who has been nurturing the constituency to contest from after facing waterloo twice at Algapur in by election of 2014 and 2016.

The most controversial Rumi Nath won on BJP ticket from Borkhola in 2006, the first ever woman to break the tradition of all man win from the constituency since the first general election of 1952. But, the pride for BJP began to hobnob with Congress, defied party whip and voted for the INC in 2010 Rajya Sabha polls. Rumi Nath won as Congress candidate in 2011. She embroiled herself in yet another controversy by marrying a Muslim Jackie Zakir in 2012. This was a short time affair as she reconverted to Hinduism. But by that time, her image was sullied beyond repair, accepted neither by Congress nor BJP. The seating MLA of Borkhola Kishore Nath is hardly expected to make room for Rumi Nath. As Kishore Nath said, ' I am not a losing candidate and firmly rooted to my people.'

Gautom Roy is in dilemma. After going for self declaration as a candidate from Katigorah, the sitting MLA Amar Chand Jain fumed to say, 'I will resist any attempt by him to contest from here. He should better go back to his parent party Congress.' His son Rahul Roy's predicament is even more pitiable. His repeated attempts to project himself as a candidate from Udharbond constituency only revoked angry protest from sitting MLA Mihir Kanti Shome and BJP supporters. It will be watched with interest the next moves of Rumi Nath, Gautom Roy and Rahul Roy. Till then, political analysts will have to keep their fingers crossed.