A high-stakes triangular contest has emerged in Dispur after the BJP candidate’s sudden shift sparked a revolt within its ranks, triggering a fierce battle in the Assam capital seat.
Until last week, the contest was expected to be between Atul Bora, the current BJP MP, and Meera Borthakur Goswami, the former BJP leader who joined the Congress in 2021.
However, that changed on March 19 when the BJP released its list of candidates for next month’s Assam assembly elections. Pradyut Bordoloi, the MP who joined the saffron party just a day ago, was given a Dispur ticket.
This upset Bora, who has represented the Dispur seat five times since 1985 – three times as an Asom Gana Parishad candidate and twice for the BJP in 2016 and 2021. The 65-year-old initially threatened to contest as an independent or support Goswami in the Congress.
He was eventually calmed down after Prime Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited his residence, though he expressed reservations about the election campaign of new BJP entrant Pradyut Bordoloi.
While Bora was eventually convinced, another BJP leader, Jayanta Das – who had been waiting in the wings for more than three decades – decided to contest as an independent. Efforts by senior leaders, including Sambit Patra, to persuade him to change his plans failed, and on Friday, Das was expelled from the BJP for six years.
The contest for Dispur has thus turned into a three-way battle, with Meera Borthakur Goswami (Congress), Pradyut Bordoloi (BJP) and Jayanta Das (Independents) seeking voter support to outdo each other.
“I never expected that I would get an opportunity to represent Dispur. But it was God’s choice and call of the BJP leadership that I am here before you today. I cannot assure at this moment that I will solve all your problems, but I can assure that the main capital I have is my devotion to the people of my constituency. Hence, I seek your blessings,” Bordoloi said on Saturday while addressing a campaign meeting.
On the other hand, in the wake of heavy rains in the city on Saturday morning, Congress MP Goswami visited the waterlogged areas in the constituency like Hatigaon, Survi and Rukminigaon and accused the government of failing to address this important problem. She also appealed to those present to support her and assured them that the issue would be addressed.
“The government continues to harp on development. What kind of development is this when people have to wade into deep water in central Guwahati?” Goswami said, adding that the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government was more efficient in dealing with urban floods.
The Dispur seat has returned candidates from different parties as victors over the years. Since 1978, the constituency has seen winners from the Janata Party, Congress, Asom Gana Parishad and BJP, with Atul Bora, the current MLA, being the most successful candidate.
“It is difficult to guess who will come out on top in Dispur. Independent Jayanta Das has very good relations with the people, some of whom feel that he was wronged by the BJP for denying him the ticket and choosing Congress defector Bordoloi,” said Shahzahan Kazi, a resident.
“Despite the immense strength of the BJP, Bordoloi will have an uphill task ahead of him. But it is still early days and a lot can change before the vote. Congress’ Goswami has a good image and could emerge victorious if Das can reduce the BJP’s vote base and deny Bordoloi a win,” he added.
Besides Bordoloi, Goswami and Das, there are two other candidates in the fray in Dispur: Aam Aadmi Party’s Pallav Batra and Ayush Kumar Singh (Independent).
