“It’s now up to the people of Assam to defeat BJP”: Akhil Gogoi from Jail

GUWAHATI: Jailed activist and president of newly formed Raijor Dal, Akhil Gogoi, expressed his sorrow over opposition parties allegedly failing to unite against the ruling BJP. In an open letter from prison, he put his last hope on the people of the state and asked the voters to make the right decision and defeat BJP in the upcoming Assam assembly election.

Gogoi had urged opposition parties in Assam to put up joint candidates against the ruling BJP and its allies parties in the coming assembly polls in order not to divide votes.

He, in the letter, said, “Despite my repeated request, the opposition parties have fielded multiple numbers of candidates against BJP candidates leading to confusion amongst the voters. It’s unfortunate that due to the ‘immaturity’ of the opposition parties, the anti –Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) votes may get divided.”

“Therefore, the responsibility is now with the people of the state. This election is a do-or-die situation for the people of the state. Assam’s future is going to be determined in this election. I urge all the voters to choose the strongest candidates fielded against the BJP and its allies in their respective constituencies and vote for them. At any cost, we have to defeat BJP,” Gogoi wrote.

Gogoi, who was arrested in December 2019 for his role in the violent anti-CAA protests and is currently under treatment at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

He is contesting the election from Sibsagar constituency. His party Raijor Dal has fielded at least 19 candidates this poll.

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