Congress’ first-time women contestants woo Gauhati voters

Guwahati:They may be facing a tough challenge from their BJP and AGP counterparts but ruling Congress’ two women candidates, both first-timers, are making all-out efforts to woo electorate with grit and determination in the prestigious Gauhati (East) and Gauhati (West) assembly seats. Bobbeeta Sharma, a film and television personality from Gauhati (East), and business woman and social activist Jury Sharma Bordoloi from Gauhati (West), are facing stiff contest from BJP’s Siddhartha Bhattacharya and its alliance partner AGP’s Ramen Kalita in the two constituencies respectively.
Battling anti-incumbency, the ruling party replaced three time sitting MLA and former minister Capt Robin Bordoloi with 47-year-old Sharma in Gauhati (East) while 39-year-old Bordoloi was given ticket from Gauhati (West), replacing sitting party MLA Hemanta Talukdar who is now contesting as an independent.
Talukdar had last year sided with the dissidents in the party led by former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has since joined the BJP. Talukdar however, has not joined the saffron party.
Capt Robin Bordoloi though initially miffed at being denied the party ticket later extended his support to Bobbeeta Sharma and campaigned in several areas with the new entrant.
Talukdar, however, despite several appeals by the Gauhati (West) candidate and party members did not withdraw his nomination, and was expected to queer the pitch for Bordoloi.
Gauhati (East) will witness a straight contest between the candidates of the two major parties – Congress and BJP though there are 12 candidates in the fray.
BJP’s Bhattacharya, who lost the last election to Congress by a mere 3,997 votes, and his supporters are going all-out to wrest the seat from the ruling party with its campaign focussing on better roads and drinking water facilities.
“The sitting Congress MLA failed to improve the basic amenities for the residents of Guwahati, which is considered the Gateway to the North East, and my focus will be to improve the conditions in the city,” the 57-year old advocate said.
On the other hand, the Congress candidate has taken out a separate constituency manifesto highlighting her vision for its development.
“In Gauhati (East), people do have myriad problems and it will be my effort to solve these issues by adopting a holistic approach and make it a citizen-friendly constituency,” said Sharma, who is the also the Chairperson of Assam Film Finance Development Corporation (AFFDC).
Sharma is also pinning her hopes on 1,06,267 female voters in the constituency and has made efforts to reach out to them. (PTI)