Guwahati: Assam BJP’s move to go for aggressive ticket overhaul for the April 9 assembly elections — dropping 19 sitting MLAs amid 1,400 aspirants — has triggered a storm of dissent with several veterans threatening to contest as Independents.
It all began following the induction of Congress heavyweights Pradyut Bordoloi (Dispur) and Bhupen Borah (Bihpuria), sidelining loyalists. In Samaguri, MLA Rupjyoti Das quit in fury, blasting Sarma for creating a “Congress BJP” by favouring former rivals over “old timers.” Das’s supporters have secured nomination papers for his Independent bid, signalling a direct challenge.
Veteran Atul Bora, BJP’s two-term face since 2016 and former AGP stalwart from 1985, mulled the same after ticket denial. Bora has so far stayed mum on his next course of action.
New Guwahati and Guwahati Central also simmers with senior BJP leaders denied tickets. Former minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who lured Sarma to BJP in 2015, though stayed calm, dodged election queries even as Diplu Ranjan Sarma (from Samaguri) replaced him and sought “blessings.” AGP veteran Ramendra Narayan Kalita fumed over Vijay Gupta’s nod — a Hindi-speaker — prompting Sarma’s intervention amid local backlash.
If that is not all, Bihpuria erupted in anger over Bhupen Borah ousting former AASU leader and sitting MLA Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, who is weighing his options to contest as an Independent candidate. In Sonari, former MP Topon Kumar Gogoi, who was defeated by Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is mulling a solo run following pressure from his supporter..
In south Assam’s Barak Valley, sitting MLAs Nihar Ranjan Das (Dholai), Dipayan Chakraborty (Silchar), Mihir Kanti Som (Udharbond) have been denied tickets leading to dissent, according to sources.
Sarma brushed off the unrest, saying: “There were 1,400 ticket aspirants and ‘it is not possible to accommodate all’.”
State BJP chief Dilip Saikia sought to downplay the dissent, saying: “Talks are underway with those denied tickets … I am sure they will understand.” He added:”The BJP is a disciplined party and its members will not do anything to harm its interests. Some of them may have expected tickets as they had worked very hard, but it is not possible to accommodate all aspirants and they will understand.”
Adding salt to BJP’s sore, Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday said the BJP is a “Congress led by Sarma.”
Elections to the 126 seats in Assam is on April 9. The counting is slated for May 4.
