GUWAHATI: Phani Bhusan Choudhury, a senior leader of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Member of Parliament for the Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency, has announced his retirement from active politics. The announcement was made on Monday, October 28.
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Choudhury, who has served as the longest-serving MLA in Assam, representing the Bongaigaon seat for eight consecutive terms, declared that the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections would be his last.
Speaking to the media, he expressed concerns about his future, stating, “I have aged, and there are five years until 2029. What will happen to me at that time is something I cannot predict... By the time the 2029 Lok Sabha elections arrive, I may not have the age or health to contest. This has led me to contemplate my future, and I have decided that I will not contest the 2029 elections. Therefore, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be my last.”
Choudhury’s decision comes as his wife, Diptimoyee Choudhury, has been nominated as the AGP candidate for the upcoming Bongaigaon by-election following his election to the Lok Sabha this year.
He noted, “For the remaining one and a half years of my tenure as a legislator in the Assam State Legislative Assembly, the people of the Bongaigaon Assembly constituency have chosen Diptimoyee Choudhury as a candidate. Whether or not she will contest the 2026 Assembly elections will be a decision for the party leadership; however, if you ask me, I do not believe Diptimoyee Choudhury will contest the 2026 elections.”
Regarding the upcoming State Assembly by-polls scheduled for November 13, Choudhury commented on the political landscape, stating, “If the previous elections, including this year's General Elections, are any indication, it is clear that the BJP, AGP, and UPPL are in a stronger position compared to the Congress, which is why we have secured victories in the elections.”