Assam polls: Family loyalty matters to get Cong ticket

Guwahati: Family members/spouses of several State Congress leaders have been given party ticket to  contest the next Assembly election in Assam as per the first list of 65 Congress poll candidates meant for the constituencies going for poll in the first phase on April 4 next.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) had promised several new faces in the party’s poll candidates this time. However, most of those new faces turned out to be family members of ruling Congress leaders and legislators.
Prominent among Congress leaders’ kin who have been given party nomination to contest polls include  APCC president and MLA Anjan Dutta’s daughter Ankita Dutta (Amguri ), MLA Rameswar Dhanowar’s son,  Gautom Dhanowar (Digboi ), MLA Arklias Tirki’s daughter Roseline Tirki (Sarupathar ), minister Gautom Roy’s son Rahul Roy ( Algapur ), former minister Late D P Goala’s son Rajdeep Goala ( Lakhipur ), former Union minister Santosh Mohan Deb’s wife Bithika Deb (Silchar), MLA and former minister G C Langthasa’s son Nirmal Langthasa (Haflong), former minister Gomeswar Pegu’s son Sushil Pegu (Jonai ), former minister Ripun Bora’s wife Monika Bora (Gohpur ), senior MLA Member Gogoi’s daughter-in-law, Pallabi Saikia Gogoi (Teok ).
It may be mentioned that minister Gautom Roy has been given nomination by the party to contest from  Katlichera  while his son is contesting from the neighbouring Algapur LAC in Barak Valley in South Assam reflecting the dominance of Roys in Congress party in the state.
Senior Congress leader and former minister Bharat Chandra Narah has been nominated by the party to contest from Dhakuakhana while his wife and former MP, Rani Narah has been nominated by the party as one of its two candidates for Rajya Sabha polls to be held on March 21 next.
Former minister and senior Congress leader Ripun Bora is the party’s first choice candidate for Rajya Sabha election slated for March 21 next while his wife is contesting in Assembly polls from Gohpur .
Former union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar will contest Assembly polls from Moran  where his wife Jibontora Ghatowar is the sitting MLA.
Former chief minister Late Hiteswar Saikia’s son and MLA Debabrat Saikia is once again contesting from Nazira  while sitting MLA and minister Bismita Gogoi who is daughter-in-law of former Assam Assembly speaker and Congress leader Late Jibakanta Gogoi , has been given nomination to contest from Khumtai  once again.