‘His Dhubri balloon has burst’: Pijush Hazarika claims Rakibul Hussain wants Nagaon comeback

Assam minister Pijush Hazarika on September 18 took a swipe at Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, claiming that the Congress leader is looking to return to Nagaon after his political standing in Dhubri had “burst like a balloon”.

Addressing a BJP joining programme and public meeting at Juria Dagao, Hazarika alleged that Hussain wants to return to Nagaon because his current political position as the Dhubri Lok Sabha MP has not worked out as expected.

“His balloon has burst in Dhubri,” Hazarika said while targeting the Congress leader.

Hazarika also claimed that Hussain had initially wanted Congress to give the Nagaon bypoll ticket to Dr Durlav Chamua. He alleged that Chamua had agreed to leave the Nagaon seat for Hussain in a future Lok Sabha election.

Congress has fielded former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora as its candidate for the Nagaon bypoll, while BJP has nominated Debashish Sharma.

The minister’s remarks came during a campaign event where the BJP organised a large-scale joining programme, with several opposition leaders and workers formally joining the party.

Hazarika also claimed that the large turnout at the event, including around 30,000 people from the minority community, indicated growing support for the BJP in Nagaon. He cited the gathering while asserting that BJP candidate Debashish Sharma would win the bypoll.

The claims regarding Hussain’s alleged plans to return to Nagaon and the purported understanding over the party ticket were made by Hazarika during the campaign and have not been independently verified.

Hussain currently represents the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency, while the Nagaon seat has fallen vacant following the election of Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi from another constituency.