GUWAHATI: Election in Assam’s Golaghat constituency has become highly interesting for both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress as both the parties have virtually ‘swapped’ their candidates and been going in full throttle to exhibit the power of strength.
While sitting MLA from Golaghat, Ajanta Neog, left Congress last year and joined BJP and already being fielded by the saffron camp from the seat; BJP’s Bitupan Saikia who was denied of party ticket joined Congress and will be contesting against BJP.
The two contenders had fought the 2016 state elections from Golaghat but from the opposite parties. But the political ideology that once decided loyalties towards parties seemed to be a thing of the past.
On Monday the Golaghat city witnessed a sea of humanity as both Neog and Saikia marched through the city with hundreds of their supporters to file their nomination papers.
While Saikia chose to ride an elephant along with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and leader Rockybul Hussain when going to file his nomination papers, BJP’s heavyweight minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pijush Hazarika accompanied Neog.
“An elephant is a symbol of good luck and so I have come to file my nomination on a jumbo. People of Golaghat have accepted Congress and we will win,” Saikia said.
Meantime, Neog said she was confident to win from the Golaghat seat. “My vision is to make Golaghat, amongst Assam’s best cities. I am sure I will from Golaghat and continue to serve my people,” she said.
In 2016, Neog had won from Golaghat with 73,862 votes as a Congress candidate while Saikia who was in BJP then came second with 68, 649 votes. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) which came third in 2016, did not field its candidate from Golaghat. AIUDF is an ally of Congress in 2021 polls.
However, AIUDF will still have a friendly contest with its ally in Sarukhetri, Jaleswar, Dalgaon, Chenga and Bagbor seats.
READ MORE: Congress’s Ripun Bora, Bhupen Bora, Angkita Dutta & others file nominations
