BJP wins Dhemaji by-poll in Assam

Guwahati: The ruling BJP on Thursday retained Dhemaji Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) in Assam in the by-election defeating its nearest rival Congress. The election was held on April 9 last.

The BJP candidate and a veteran political leader from Mishing tribe Ranoj Pegu who joined the BJP just a day before he filed his nomination, won the assembly by-election defeating his nearest Congress rival Babul Sonowal by 9,285 votes.

The BJP candidate polled 75,217 votes, while his Congress rival received 65,932 votes, according to the election officials.

The by poll was necessitated after the election of the sitting BJP MLA, Pradan Baruah as MP from Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat in the Lok Sabha by-election held recently.

A total of five candidates were in the fray in the Assembly by-election. The other three candidates are CPI(M)’s Jadu Hazarika, SUCI(C)’s Hem Kanta Miri and Independent Rajkumar Doley.

The BJP had won 60 out of the 126 Assembly seats in Assam in the Assembly election held in 2016 and formed the government in partnership with its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).

Ranuj Pegu had joined the BJP recently shifting allegiance from the regional Gana Shakti Party which was founded by him as an exclusive political party for Mishing Tribe in Assam.

Ranoj Pegu had extended support to the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal in Majuli LAC during the last Assembly election held in the state.