GUWAHATI, March 4: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday claimed that the first list of candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections, released by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), “is a reflection of dynastic politics”.
Addressing mediapersons, Sarma claimed that the Congress list, which was released yesterday, primarily has sons and relatives of prominent political leaders, be it the son of late chief minister Tarun Gogoi, son of former chief minister Hiteswar Saikia, or even the son of late chief minister Bhumidhar Barman.
Notably, the AICC had released a list of 42 candidates for the state Assembly elections. Assam PCC president, Gaurav Gogoi has been selected as the party candidate from Jorhat constituency; former Assam PCC chief Ripun Bora has been nominated from Barchalla, while Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Debabrata Saikia will contest from the Nazira seat.
“Even the sons of Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi and Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain are in the list of candidates. So, the Congress continues to adhere to its tradition of selecting candidates who are sons and relatives of prominent leaders,” the chief minister said.
On the contrary, Sarma said the BJP has given tickets to people who are from humble backgrounds or belong to middle class or lower middle-class families.
Referring to the nominations of BJP’s candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the chief minister said, “We have nominated people like Terash Gowalla and Jogen Mohan whose parents were never in the political limelight. So, unlike the Congress, which still believes in promoting family-based politics, BJP’s objective is to ensure that a majority of individuals from humble backgrounds and even economically disadvantaged sections are given an opportunity to take their political journeys ahead,” he said.
“The list therefore clearly indicates that there are ideological differences between the BJP and Congress. The BJP is yet to release the candidates’ list for the Assembly elections, but when the candidates are announced, you will make out the difference,” the chief minister said.
