GUWAHATI: G Plus has reliably learnt that a prominent lawyer from Guwahati has been requested by the state Congress party to contest from the Gauhati Lok Sabha Seat.
According to the source, a few days back there was a consensus among various civil society groups that a common opposition candidate should be put up for the Gauhati Lok Sabha seat. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, organizations that Hiren Gohain is related to, and other socio-cultural organizations had jointly thought of a proposition on fielding a common candidate. Moreover, this proposition had the consent of the Congress party, as all these organisations were together in the fight against the controversial citizenship bill.
On Saturday, the civil society groups finalized the name of senior advocate Kamalnayan Choudhury to which the lawyer had agreed. But much to the surprise of Choudhury, who is not even a party member, the Congress contacted him to contest under their banner from Gauhati Lok Sabha constituency, revealed the source.
Though the Congress had initially given its consent to the proposal of a joint candidate by the civil society groups, it seems the All India Congress Committe wants Choudhury to contest under the Congress banner now.
Choudhury, who is non-political, and who also supported the civil society groups protesting against the citizenship bill, took feedback from his friends and well-wishers and finally gave his nod to the Congress proposal, as he can now voice his concern regarding the bill to the general public through a bigger platform, said the source.
The sudden projection of Kamalnayan Choudhury as a Congress candidate has totally changed the game for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Guwahati as it has been welcomed and criticized at the same time.
G Plus contacted Congress leader of the opposition, Debabrata Saikia who stated that he was not aware of this development and cannot say anything about it at this moment.
Aspiring candidate from Gauhati Lok Sabha, Bobbeeta Sarma said that there are all kinds of news flowing and it is not right to comment on something like this. She said that she has not been informed by the party about this development.