SILAPATHAR, March 3 � Atleast 9 Congress leaders will seek the party ticket to contest the ensuing Assembly polls from Jonai LAC (ST). Ex-MLA of Jonai LAC and secretary of APCC, Pradhan Baruah, ex-Lok Sabha MP of Lakhimpur, Bolin Kuli, Sushil Pegu, Hemanti Doley, Uken Pegu, Jamini Doley, Prahlad Charah, Bijoy Pegu, Horinath Pegu are in the race for Congress ticket.
Pradhan Baruah, ex-MLA of Jonai LAC and secretary of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) is the main contender. Baruah had won the Jonai LAC seat for two successive terms in 1996 as AGP party candidate and in 2001 as Congress party candidate. But he lost the seat in 2006 Assembly polls to Sanmilita Gana Shakti Assam (SGSA) candidate Bhuban Pegu.
On the other hand, Hemanta Doley (Pegu), Daughter in law of former president of APCC and ex-MP and minister late Lalit Kr Doley is another Congress party ticket seeker. She was also a member of the Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress and president of Senior Mising Women�s Society.
Retired Water Resource dept Engineer Uken Pegu has also joined the race to bag the Congress ticket. He is organising local functions to woo party workers and general voters in the constituency.
Moreover, ex-MP Bolin Kuli, Sushil Pegu, Prahlad Charah, Bijoy Pegu, Horinath Pegu, Jamani Doley are also not leaving any stone unturned for the Congress ticket. They have been holding party meetings, general meetings, rallies in the constituency to woo the general voters.
Factionalism has hit the Sissiborgaon block Congress where there are now two presidents� Santiram Pegu and Bhavo Kanta Doley. This has affected party activities in the unit. Congress party observer Charan Das Mahat along with Lakhimpur MP Rani Narah attended a meeting at Kulajan recently to know the position of the party as well as strength of the ticket seekers.
