Tickets? All in the family!

Dysty politics: Sons, daughters, daughter-in-laws queue up at Rajiv Bhavan for tickets

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 5: For a party which rallies around South Asia's most famous political dysty, this does not come as a surprise.

From Dr Bhumidhar Barman's son Diganta to Robin Bordoloi's daughter Ashima, at least a dozen 'sons and daughters' of politicians are vying for Congress tickets for the forthcoming assembly elections.

Diganta Barman is seeking a ticket from Barkhetri, his father's constituency. Similarly, Ashima, currently a councilor in the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, is seeking a ticket from Guwahati East.

Veteran Congress MLA Rameswar Dhanowar and his son Gautam have sought tickets from the same constituency - Digboi.  Similarly, sitting legislator Aklius Tirkey, his son and daughter - all have applied for tickets, that too from the same constituency - Sarupathar.

Teok MLA Membor Gogoi's daughter-in-law Pallabi Saikia Gogoi has also applied for a ticket.

However, Moran MLA Jeevan Tara Ghatowar and Algapur MLA Mandira Roy have "sacrificed" their seats and are promoting their sons - Pranjal and Rahul respectively - from their seats.

APCC president Anjan Dutta's daughter is a frontrunner to get the Congress ticket in Amguri. Anjan Dutta may contest from Sivasagar this time. However, Assembly Speaker Prab Gogoi's son Promit has also sought the party ticket from Sivasagar.

Former minister Late Rupam Kurmi's son and sitting MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi is also likely to get the ticket for the fourth consecutive time from Mariani.

Party sources said around 900 aspirants have filed applications seeking nomition. Though the last date earlier was March 8, it was been preponed to March 6.

The district level selection committees will shortlist candidates before a scrutiny by the State committee and fil approval by the party high command.