Assam Assembly election: 'Kin candidates' give dimension to contests in many LACs

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: This Assembly election in the State may witness "keen contest" in many LACs (Legislative Assembly Constituencies). However, "contests amongst kin" are glaringly visible even now.

There are a few interesting cases in this election concerning families. Two cousins – Rupak Sarma of the BJP and Santanu Sarma of the Congress – have been pitted against each other in a pitch battle for the Nagaon LAC. While Santanu Sarma is the son of former Congress Minister (late) Mukut Sarma, Rupak Sarma is the son of (late) Mukut Sarma's sibling.

The Lahorighat LAC in Morigaon district paints a different picture. In this LAC, both former Congress Minister Nazrul Islam and his son Dr Asif Nazar sought Congress tickets. Incidentally, the party ticket was given to Dr Asif Nazar. Non-performance on the part of Nazrul Islam over the years earned him an anti-incumbency wave in the LAC and his son will have to sail against this wave. In an interesting twist to the situation, a slogan that's pleasant to the ears of the electorates of this LAC is 'Baap-Beta Hatao, Samosti Bachao' (remove the father-son duo to save the constituency). The man spearheading this slogan with mass support is an Independent candidate from the constituency who was denied ticket by the AIUDF in their seat-sharing agreement.

The Barak Valley paints yet another family picture. Three members of a family have been fighting this poll from three different LACs in the Valley. While former Congress Minister Gautam Roy is fighting this poll from Katigorah on a BJP ticket, his son Rahul Roy is fighting as an Independent candidate from Udarbond LAC. Rahul Roy's wife Daisy Roy, on the other hand, is contesting as an Independent candidate from Algapur Constituency. It's interesting to note that the Rahul-Daisy couple is set to cut BJP votes in both the LACs.

In 2006, Rahul won the Algapur seat on a Congress ticket, but he was defeated by AGP's Sahidul Alam Choudhury in 2011. However, the demise of Sahidul Alam led to a bypoll that was won by Mandira Roy, wife of Gautam Roy. In 2016, Rahul contested from Algapur on a Congress ticket without success. This time, he left the Algapur seat for his wife.

Also Read: Assam Assembly election, Legislative Assembly Constituencies, Assam Polls

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