By-Polls: KMSS leader Dhairjya Konwar to contest from Thowra?

By Devabrata Dutta

GUWAHATI: Akhil Gogoi led Raijor Dal is likely to field Dhairjya Konwar, General Secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), from Thowra Legislative Assembly Constituency in the upcoming by-polls after two-time Congress MLA from the constituency Sushanta Borgohain resigned from the party recently making the ground shaky for Congress yet again.

Borgohain is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party in August.

Notably, Congress has been accusing two newly formed regional parties Raijor Dal and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) of cutting down their votes against BJP in the last Assam Assembly polls by fielding separate candidates from Congress-led grand-alliance.

Earlier this month, Raijor Dal Chief Akhil Gogoi said that he was interested in fielding a common candidate with Congress in by-polls to defeat the BJP if the latter broke its tie with AIUDF. He also urged other opposition parties to do the same.

Also Read: Akhil Gogoi Extends Support To CM Himanta Biswa Over Mizoram’s FIR

Sources in the KMSS have informed InsideNE that Dhairjya Konwar's name is at the top of the probable list of candidates to be fielded from Thowra in the by-polls.

"Sushanta Borgohain was the only face of Congress in Thowra. With his resignation from the party's primary membership, I do not believe if they had any other prominent candidate. On the other hand, Dhairjya Konwar has a fair chance of winning," said a KMSS member on condition of anonymity.

Congress, on the other hand, has restrained from making any comment regarding the matter when contacted.

However, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Pranatee Phukan, five-time MLA from Naharkatia constituency, to take stock of the current political situation in Thorwa. The committee is supposed to submit its report by August 4.  A total of six constituencies of Assam to go by-polls, the date of which is yet to be announced.

APCC Spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma said that decision regarding a candidate was to be finalized after the new president Bhupen Borah takes charge officially once the Thowra LAC committee submits its report.

 "Let the President takes charge officially on August 4," Sharma said to InsideNE.

Bhasco De Saikia , Working President of Raijor Dal however said, "Everything is in its primary stage. We are going to field candidates in each and every constituency and surveys for the same are underway."

Upon asked about Raijor Dal's alliance with Congress, Saikia said, "If only they are ready to eliminate AIUDF from the Grand–Alliance.”

Notably, Dhairjya Konwar was one of the KMSS leaders to get arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 act allegedly for provoking and inciting the anti-CAA protestors in the state.

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