Guwahati: In what appears to be challenging moments for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on deciding who gets tickets to contest the ensuing elections and who doesn’t, some big names and sitting candidates could come under the axe. Well placed sources within the party hinted at a similar “tough time” in deciding on its candidates from Gauhati East and Dispur constituencies of Guwahati.
Information available with G Plus has it that names of the first list of candidates will be out today, March 5. These will be of those contesting in the first phase of the elections slated on March 27.
The next set of names will be out soon after. According to sources, the Gauhati West constituency will once again see Ramendra Narayan Kalita of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) contesting, whereas in Gauhati East, three names are doing rounds, that of Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Mrigen Sarania and Shantanu Bharali. It however appears that sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Siddhartha Bhattacharaya will get the ticket.
On the other hand, former Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania is as good as out of the race, sources informed. “Bhattacharya has an old political history and is a sitting MLA. He is also one of the old BJP members in Assam. Bharali on the other hand is a close associate of the chief minister and a powerful candidate so let see which way their fortune tilts,” said a member of the BJP who did not wanted to be identified.
As for Dispur, the three aspirants include sitting MLA Atul Bora, youth leader Mriganka Barman and BJP spokesperson Jayanta Das.Interestingly, inside sources told G Plus that “some state BJP leaders want to get rid of Bora,” but given his stature and the fact that he is the sitting MLA and is control of the AGP that may not be easy. What assumes significance though is that even Mriganka Barman and Jayanta Das are also popular in the constituency and are seen as potential candidates. All of these may give the BJP’s state and national leadership something to think about if not sleepless nights.
Notably what is worth mentioning is that it is likely that 10 to 12 sitting BJP MLAs will not get ticket this time as the party wants to bring in new faces. The same perhaps applies to AGP which may leave out many of its leaders to rope in young and popular names.
In so far as Gauhati West is concerned it will in all likelihood remain with AGP and there’s no inside party contest for the Jalukbari seat.