GUWAHATI, Nov 12: The stage is all set for by-polls in five assembly constituencies of Assam tomorrow (Nov 13).
Elections, necessitated after legislators of these five constituencies were elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections, will be held in Dholai (SC) in Barak Valley, Samaguri, Behali, Bongaigaon and Sidli.
While the BJP is contesting in Dholai (SC), Behali and Samaguri, alliance partners AGP and UPPL have put up candidates in Bongaigaon and Sidli respectively.
Among the five constituencies, Samaguri and Behali have hogged the limelight, with the BJP and the Congress headed for an interesting battle.
In Samaguri, the BJP is looking to end former legislator Rakibul Hussain’s dynastic politics by defeating his son Tanzil who has been awarded the Congress ticket. The BJP has fielded Diplu Ranjan Sarmah from the seat which was also represented by Rakibul’s father Nurul Hussain in the past.
Samaguri had witnessed pre-poll violence amid the hectic month-long campaigning with the BJP accusing the Congress of resorting to violence and intimidation. Gunshots were also fired at BJP MLA Jitu Goswami’s car, allegedly by henchmen of the Congress on Saturday night.
In Behali, the main contest will be between the BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal and Jayanta Bora of the Congress.
Bongaigaon will see a two-cornered contest between AGP’s Diptimoyee Choudhury, wife of 8-term MLA Phani Bhushan Choudhury, and the Congress’ Brajenjit Singha, a retired IPS officer.
While in Dholai, the main contest will also be between BJP’s Nihar Ranjan Das and Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha of the Indian National Congress, Sidli will see a three-cornered contest between Nirmal Brahma of UPPL, Congress’ Sanjib Wari and Suddha Kumar Basumatary of BPF
The BJP and its two allies, meanwhile, are hopeful of having the last laugh in all the five constituencies.
Meanwhile, adequate arrangements have been made for tomorrow’s voting with security personnel deployed in strength in sensitive polling stations.
Polling will begin from 7am in the morning.
Results will be declared on Nov 23.
