By Bhupen Goswami
Guwahati : The BJP has dropped half of their existing MPs in Assam as list of the BJP candidates are being released by tonight, forcing one to resign, two to surrender and another still clinging for last minute miracle in ticket distribution. The BJP dropped Jorhat MP Kamkhya Prasad Tasa, Union minister Rajen Gohain, Tezpur MP R P Sharma and likely to drop veteran Bijoya Chakravarty. Only from the old BJP Ramen Deka is likely to survive.
Kamakhaya Tasa and Rajen Gohain have surrendered and R P Sharma resigned in humiliation while Bijoya Chakrvarty is still hoping of securing a ticket using the window of women quota. She is 79. Kamakhaya Tasa and Rajen Gohain addressed media today and informed and they would abide by the party decision. The party insiders have said that he bargained the seat for his wife at the last moment. But the loud mouth R P Sharma could not digest the humiliation of his name not being forwarded in the panel for Tezpur seat and announced his resignation through social media. The BJP is bringing in Tapan Gogoi in place of Tasa, Rajen Gohain’s wife Rita Nath Gohain in place of her husband and Himanta Biswa Sharma in place of R P Sharma. The BJP list has complete Himanta Biswa Sharma stamp all over as he could put most of his men in all the 14 Lok Sabha constituency and obvious choice for the plum ministry if he wins an BJP voted to power.
Union Minister of State for Railway Rajen Gohain fought hard and when the four time MP was sure of losing the seat, he lobbied hard for his wife Rita Nath Gohain. Although till last night the deal was to get ticket to Nagaon MLA Rupak Sharma and get Rajen Gohain’s son elected through the seat to be vacated by Rupak Sharma. But Gohan found the proposition fraught with risk and pitched hard for his wife, who is a long term BJP local level leader and perfectly fit into to the women quota and thus by shutting out Bijoya Chakravarty from the race to get the Guwahati ticket through Women quota. The actual list is being announced by tonight as AGP leaders are also meeting the BJP leaders beside the Party President Amit Shah to talk out about the three candidates they are putting in. AGP is putting up Moni Madhab Mahanta in Koliabor, Bhupen Ray in Barpeta and Zaved Islam in Dhubri.
The AGP has tough time in all three constituencies and their best bet is in Koliabor where too Moni Madhab Mahanta have been facing popular ire of the people as he ditched AASU only three days back to contest Lok Sabha election in AGP ticket. He was the vice president of the ASSU as well as brother of AGP Minister Keshab Mahanta.On other hands Ram Prasad Sharma, sitting Lok Sabha MP from Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency, resigned from the primary membership of BJP this morning. The BJP leader broke down during an interview with our reporter in New Delhi. The miffed BJP veteran RP Sharma is planning to join a national political party soon, but he didn’t reveal the name of the party. He said, “I may contest election or not, but it is clear that I will join a national political party. It may be Congress or some other political parties”.
MP Sharma said that “Really feel pained in my heart for those old Assam Pradesh BJP workers; who were most neglected in the Party by the new intruders in the Party.” The MP said that the old guards of the party who have been toiling for decades are now most neglected and ill treated. It may be mentioned that the Assam Pradesh BJP sent multiple names for all 14 seats except for Tezpur from where finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is expected to contest. “After serving the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) for 15 years and the BJP for 29 years. I felt greatly insulted when my name did not find place in panel set up by the state BJP committee. Even, CM Sarbananda Sonowal hadn’t suggested my name.” RP Sharma added. A couple of days ago, RP Sharma said that it will not be easy for Himanta Biswa Sarma to win the constituency. He also added that he is the only person, who can manage the victory from the said constituency.
