DIBRUGARH, May 19 - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a thumping victory in the district by sweeping all the seven Assembly constituencies, defeating even the Congress heavyweights like Paban Singh Ghatowar, Prithibi Majhi and Atuwa Munda, among others.
The BJP had fielded mostly the young guns against the Congress veterans except in 115-Dibrugarh LAC where incumbent MLA Prasanta Phukan retained the seat for the third time. Phukan�s nearest rival was Indian National Congress� Chandrakanta Baruah, former chairperson of Dibrugarh Municipal Board (DMB). Phukan secured 63,985 votes, while Baruah could garner some 36,611 votes.
Former assistant general secretary of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) and BJP candidate Rituparana Baruah won the 117-Lahoal LAC by defeating five-time MLA and former Minister Prithibi Majhi. He secured a total of 59,013 votes, while Majhi managed to get 39,414 votes.
BJP�s Chakradhar Gogoi defeated Paban Singh Ghatowar in 115-Moran LAC by a margin of more than 16,231 votes. Gogoi got altogether 54,571 votes, while Ghatowar got some 38,340 votes. Ghatowar is the president of Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS). He was elected Member of Parliament for five times from Dibrugarh. He was the Union Minister of State (Independent charge), Development of North Eastern Region and Parliamentary Affairs. The Assembly constituency was earlier held by his wife Jibontara Ghatowar.
Tea tribe leader Teres Goala of the BJP won 118-Duliajan LAC by defeating Dhrubajyoti Gogoi of the Indian National Congress. He won the seat by a margin of 17,086 votes. The seat was earlier held by Congress veteran Amiya Gogoi. Teres Goala secured 58,450 votes, while his nearest rival Gogoi gathered 41,364 votes.
BJP�s Bimal Borah, a contractor and former AASU leader snatched 119-Tingkhong LAC from Forest and Environment Minister Atuwa Munda. He won by a margin of 18,338 votes. Borah secured a total of 57,072 votes, while Munda garnered about 38,734 votes.
Naren Sonowal, the lone AGP candidate in the district defeated incumbent Congress MLA Pranati Phukan of 120-Naharkatia LAC by a margin of 3,531. He secured a total vote of 46,051 and Pranati Phukan garnered 42,520 votes.
Raju Sahu, a tea tribe leader and incumbent Congress MLA from Chabua LAC, lost the seat to BJP�s Binod Hazarika. He secured some 38,597 votes, while the BJP candidate got some 69,351 votes.
Commenting on the victory, BJP�s Prasanta Phukan, who is expecting a ministerial berth in the new State Government, expressed his gratitude to the people of the State for voting the party to power. �I will continue to work for the development and uplift of the people,� he said.
Rituparna Baruah said that people sought redemption from corrupt and underperforming Tarun Gogoi-led State Government. �I will devote my entire time for the inclusive growth of the people of the State irrespective of caste, religion and communities,� he said.
