Discontent Brews Within BJP Ahead of Assam Assembly Elections

Growing Discontent Over Ticket Distribution in Assam

As the Assam Assembly elections approach on April 9, significant unrest has emerged within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the allocation of tickets. Numerous current legislators and senior party figures have expressed their dissatisfaction, threatening to contest as independents if they are not granted tickets.

Efforts to Resolve the Crisis

To address this turmoil, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and state president Dilip Saikia are actively engaging with disgruntled leaders in an attempt to placate them. The primary issue appears to be the immediate ticket allocation to leaders who have recently joined from Congress, while longstanding dedicated party workers feel overlooked.

Accusations of Creating a 'Congress-BJP' Alliance

The most intense opposition is being observed in the Dispur constituency. Senior leader Jayant Das, a strong contender for this seat, has openly revolted against Chief Minister Sarma. He has accused the BJP of transforming into a 'Congress-BJP' by favoring close associates from Congress.

Potential Independent Candidates Emerge

Jayant Das has left the party and is likely to run as an independent candidate. Similarly, the decision to grant a ticket to Bhupen Bora from Congress instead of the sitting MLA Amia Kumar Bhuiya for the Bihpuria seat has sparked considerable anger among local party workers.

Veteran Leaders Overlooked, Causing Confusion

The party has also cut tickets for several prominent figures, including senior leader Atul Bora and former minister Siddharth Bhattacharya. Atul Bora has been active in politics since 1985 and has served as a BJP MLA twice, while Bhattacharya played a crucial role in bringing Sarma into the BJP in 2015.

Local Voter Discontent

Additionally, former MP Tapan Kumar Gogoi from Jorhat is planning to contest as an independent from the Sonari seat. The decision to nominate Vijay Gupta, a Hindi speaker, for the Guwahati Central seat has also led to dissatisfaction among a segment of local voters.