In the vibrant political landscape of northeastern Assam, the Congress is gearing up to bolster its presence, marshaling key figures like party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Priyanka Gandhi. Their strategic foray into pivotal constituencies like Barpeta and Dhubri on April 27 and May 1 respectively is poised to make waves.
“Come April 27, Barpeta will witness the spirited campaign of Mallikarjun Kharge, while Dhubri will be graced by Priyanka Gandhi’s presence on May 1. We hold firm in our belief of clinching victory in both arenas,” affirmed AICC general secretary in-charge Jitendra Singh to ETV Bharat.
The Barpeta seat became a hotbed of contention with the Congress nominating state Seva Dal chief Deep Gayan, much to the chagrin of ally CPI-M. This move stirred the political pot as CPI-M retaliated by fielding Manoranjan Talukdar, resulting in a three-way tussle against Asom Gana Parishad leader Phani Bhushan Chowdhury, the joint nominee of the ruling alliance.
Abdul Khaleque, the incumbent Congress MP from Barpeta, faced the disappointment of being denied a ticket this time, prompting his resignation from the party. However, he later rescinded his decision under the counsel of party chief Kharge.
Meanwhile, in Dhubri, a stronghold traditionally favoring Congress, a new narrative unfolds with the nomination of Rakibul Hussain against former ally AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal. “Ajmal’s cozy relationship with the BJP compelled our departure post the last state polls. Despite his attempts at polarization, we stand steadfast in our confidence to counter him,” asserted Jitendra Singh.
Reflecting on the 2019 national polls, where Congress secured three out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Jitendra Singh expressed optimism about amplifying both seat count and vote share this time around. He cited a palpable discontent among voters towards the ruling BJP, signaling a favorable undercurrent for the opposition.
Recent campaign rallies featuring Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Jorhat and Dibrugarh underscore the party’s commitment. In Jorhat, Congress leader Gaurab Gogoi faces off against BJP’s Topon Gogoi, while in Dibrugarh, ally Assam Jatiya Parishad’s nominee Lurinjyoti Gogoi challenges BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal and AAP’s Manoj Dhanowar.
April 27 will witness party chief Kharge’s address at a press conference in Guwahati, where Congress nominee Mira Borthakur Goswami vies against BJP’s Bijuli Kalita Medhi.
Despite a few defections to the BJP within the Assam Congress ranks, state unit chief Bhupen Kumar Borah remains resolute in the party’s ground campaign. “My recent tours in Barpeta and Nagaon affirm our strong prospects. People are disillusioned with the BJP’s CAA stance and are embracing our vision of economic opportunities,” affirmed Borah.