Three women candidates in fray for Nagaon constituency

PTI NAGAON, APRIL 21 [dropcap]T[/dropcap]hree-time BJP MP Rajen Gohain is seeking a fourth consecutive term from this constituency and is being challenged among others by three women candidates, the highest in any seat in Assam. The state, which has sent 15 women candidates to the Lok Sabha since the first General Elections in 1952, will see 16 women in the fray this time, the highest ever. The three women candidates contesting from here for the April 24 polls are Congress’ Jonjonali Baruah, Mridula Barkakoty of AGP and Independent Selima Sultana. Baruah, the current MLA from Morigaon MLA, is hoping that criticism of neglect of the constituency against Gohain, will work in her favour. She is also eyeing support in her constituency and Congress-held neighbouring assembly segments of Jagiroad, Raha, Lahorighat and Batadrobha to dethrone Gohain.AGP nominee Barkakoty, a BJP Assam secretary till recently, is harping on her party’s regional agenda mindset and support from AGP president and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is working hard to garner votes for her. Sultana, who has studied till class XII, is fighting as an Independent. There are 15,20,600 total electorate who are expected toexercise their franchise in this constituency which has nineAssembly segments of Jagiroad, Morigaon, Laharighat, Raha, Nagaon, Barhampur, Jamunamukh, Hojai and Lumding. The constituency has considerable Muslim and Bengali- speaking Hindu voters. Notwithstanding allegations of failing to utilise his MPLAD fund properly, Gohain is soliciting votes promising to save rhinos from poachers in the state and oppose construction of mega dams in the upper reaches of river Brahmaputra among other assurances. AIUDF’s former MLA Aditya Langthasa, also in the fray, will be eyeing the minority and ethnic votes besides those of the tea tribe community. The other contestants in the race are Deepak Kumar Bora (Trinamool Congress), Rafikul Islam (All India Forward Block) and Faruk Hazarika (Independent). Former Congress president Dev Kant Barooah was the first winner from the seat in 1952. The former Bihar Governor also won in 1977. Liladhar Kotoki of Congress won four times fromhere (1957-1971). AGP’s Muhi Ram Saikia was elected thrice from this seat (1984-1996) while Nripen Goswami of Congress won in 1998. Last time, Gohain got 3,80,921 votes against his nearest Congress nominee Anil Raja who got 3,35,541 votes.