Dispur Constituency Set for a Thrilling Election Showdown on April 9
Electoral Dynamics in Dispur
Guwahati, Mar 23: The upcoming elections on April 9 are poised to bring an exciting contest to the Dispur Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC).
Among the five constituencies in the Kamrup Metro district, Dispur LAC stands out with the largest electorate. According to the latest electoral roll, there are 2,43,176 registered voters in Dispur, comprising 1,17,027 males, 1,26,137 females, and 12 individuals identifying as third gender. The constituency features 272 polling stations.
Following the delimitation process, Dispur LAC has been redefined to be more urban-focused, with significant portions of the previous No. 52 Dispur LAC, particularly rural areas, being allocated to the newly formed Dimoria (SC) constituency.
The current Dispur LAC now includes 13 wards from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC).
The Dispur constituency was first established during the 1978 Assembly elections, with Tarini Mohan Barua from the Janata Party winning the seat. He was re-elected in 1983, this time as a Congress candidate.
In the 1985 elections, Atul Bora from the AGP claimed victory following the Assam Accord, although AGP candidates ran as Independents that year. Bora successfully defended his seat in the 1991 and 1996 elections. In 2001, Robin Bordoloi from Congress took the seat from Bora, who later won again in 2006 and 2011. However, in 2016, Bora, now with the BJP, regained his former seat and maintained it in the 2021 elections.
This time, however, the BJP has chosen not to re-nominate the five-time legislator. Instead, they have surprised many by selecting veteran Congress leader and current MP Pradyut Bordoloi for the contest.
On the other hand, the Congress party has put forward senior leader Mira Borthakur Goswami, who previously had a long association with the BJP before switching to Congress in 2021.
While the primary competition is anticipated to be between Bordoloi and Borthakur Goswami, the situation may become more complex due to the dissent from Jayanta Kumar Das, a long-standing BJP member. After being denied a ticket, Das is expected to run as an Independent, potentially altering the electoral landscape.
As with many urban constituencies, Dispur faces numerous civic challenges, including unplanned growth, insufficient municipal water supply, artificial flooding, poor road conditions, irregular waste collection, traffic congestion, and air pollution.
In separate discussions, both candidates from the BJP and Congress acknowledged these issues and expressed their readiness to address them if elected.
“I would consider it a privilege to represent the voters of this constituency,” Bordoloi stated. “With my experience, I aim to create a forward-looking vision and collaborate with the Chief Minister. I have already outlined a program focusing on civic matters.”
Borthakur Goswami, meanwhile, mentioned her extensive outreach efforts over the past six months, stating, “I am confident of my victory. I have been actively engaging with the community throughout the constituency.”
She emphasized her strategy of small gatherings and door-to-door interactions over large public rallies.