SIVASAGAR, Nov 28 - The panchayat poll prospects for both the Congress and BJP are evenly poised in both Thowra and Sivasagar LACs but in Amguri LAC, the battle for the panchayats appear to be triangular one with AGP strongman and sitting MLA Pradip Hazarika rolling up his sleeves.
In sensitive Thowra LAC, it will be battle of prestige between sitting MLA Kushal Duwori of the ruling BJP and former MLA and district Congress president Sushanta Buragohain. Considered a Congress bastion, Sushanta would not miss the opportunity of taking revenge for his narrow 1226 vote loss to Kushal in the last Assembly elections through maintaining leads in the panchayats. But Kushal Duwori is making an all-out effort to capture the 20 panchayats in the constituency and is utilising all resources at his disposal as a member of the ruling party. Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will campaign for him in a day or two and he hopes that that will give a huge boost to the party workers and followers. Supporters of both the candidates brought out bike rallies to attract voters. AGP, does not have chance as other parties like CPI in the constituency.
In Sivasagar constituency, Congress MLA and former Speaker of the Assembly Pranab Gogoi is nowhere to be seen in the constituency, but the campaign is being carried forward by the party workers enthusiastically. Bijit Dutta, GS, District Congress told ANN Service today that the party expects very good results in all panchayats, especially in Betbari, Panbecha, Hanhchora and some other GPs. But Surovi Rajkumari, one of the vice-presidents of the BJP said that the party is upbeat about the outcome of the effort the workers are putting in day and night. The indication is that BJP is making inroads into otherwise Congress citadels like the Betbari GP. Three prominent ATASU leaders Rahul Gogoi, Mintu Chetia Pator and Supatfa Chetia joined the BJP in presence of Bhaben Mohan, president of the district unit and Surovi Rajkumari. Tapan Gogoi, former AASU leader and the Minister of State for Power addressed a number of meetings for the BJP candidates of Desungmukh, Panbecha, Santipur and Banmukh yesterday.
MLA Pradip Hazarika and his arch-rival of the Congress Ankita Dutta, daughter of the former Transport Minister Anjan Dutta are engaged in door-to-door campaign in Amguri LAC. But BJP candidates for ZPs, APs and GP s are counting on a good harvest in all panchayats due to factors like anti-incumbency and a surge of youth power. Hazarika addressed a series of rallies in Dekhowmukh, Khoramukh,Chintamony, Charing and other places with AGP leaders Dr Anil Gogoi, Bhaben Baruah, Jiten Bharali, Bipul Kotoky and Qeen Hazarika during the last three days.
