Assam Bye-Polls: Congress leaders express dissatisfaction over party not contesting from Mariani and Thowra
"We are not happy with the Congress high command, because Congress has a great chance to win from these constituencies given its past performances. Congress has won from both the seats with good number of votes, but now the high command has decided not to contest from the seats", said a senior Congress leader on conditions of anonymity.
GUWAHATI:
A section of Assam Congress workers have expressed their dissatisfaction over the party not fielding any candidates from Mariani and Thowra constituencies in the ensuing bye-polls, and instead allowing its pre-poll partners Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal to contest from them.
"We are not happy with the Congress high command, because Congress has a great chance to win from these constituencies given its past performances. Congress has won from both the seats with good number of votes, but now the high command has decided not to contest from the seats", said a senior Congress leader on conditions of anonymity.
On the other hand, Raijor Dal has announced that they will contest Mariani and Thowra, which are known to be Congress strongholds, in the upcoming bye-polls. Sanjib Gogoi will contest the Mariani and Dhaijya Konwar will contest Thowra, announced Gogoi, the president of Raijor Dal.
Notably, in the recently concluded Assam Assembly election, Congress won both seats. However, the Congress legislators resigned and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the elections.
Political analyst Rupak Bhattacharya pointed that Congress leaving both seats for their alliance partner will be a disaster for the party, considering the winning streak it has over the constituencies.
It is also pertinent to note that, apart from Raijor Dal, no other parties have decided their candidates for the upcoming bye-elections.
Meanwhile, Assam Congress is still deliberating over the candidates announced by alliance partner Raijor Dal against the BJP for the two seats.
"Things are still sketchy as the final decision is yet to be taken. The discussion has been going on with all the alliance partners with regard to fielding candidates against the BJP", said a senior Congress leader in Guwahati.
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