KOKRAJHAR, April 4 � Candidates from almost all the national and regional political parties as well as Independents have already started hectic campaigning in Kokrajhar Sadar subdivision. A close contest among some heavyweights, belonging to parties or as Independents seems to be in the offing in all the five constituencies of the subdivision. Most of the polling stations here are considered sensitive and highly sensitive.
The resentful voters may make a surprise choice this time. A neck-and-neck contest seems likely between the BPF, PCDR, BJP and the Congress. On the other hand, votes garnered by most of the candidates representing other political parties and Independents are expected only to marginalise the votes of the opponents.
Ten candidates are in the fray from No.7 (Non-ST) Fakiragram constituency. The main fight will be between Baktar Ali Ahmed of the BPF, Dilip Kumar Barman of the BJP, sitting MCLA Afjal Hoque Sarkar of the Congress and Abdul Ali Mondal of the AIUDF, as these political parties have strongholds in the area. The highest number of candidates fighting out for this seat in the BTC election makes prediction of the result difficult, but the margin of victory will be very small. This constituency has 60,604 voters with 31,503 males and 29,101 females. Among 73 polling stations, 29 are very sensitive, 23 are sensitive and rest are comparatively safe. However, the number of sensitive polling stations is most likely to increase.
In No.11 Baukhungri (ST) constituency, a triangular contest is likely to take place among sitting MCLA Doneswar Goyari of the BPF, Rajkumar Brahma of the BJP and Garjen Mushahary of the PCDR. All these three leaders have strongholds and are also exhibiting strong support during the campaign trail, as a result of which, certain amount of confusion prevails among voters. This constituency also has a special significance for the BPF as a ruling party and the contest is going to be tough among these candidates. In this constituency, there are 41,030 voters comprising 20,518 males and 20,512 females.
Among 52 polling stations here, 20 have been declared very sensitive, 18 sensitive and the rest comparatively safe. However, the number of sensitive polling stations is likely to increase here also during the polls.
A triangular contest is also likely to take place in No. 9 Banorgaon (ST) constituency among Mono Kr Brahma, sitting EM and dissident BPF leader who is contesting this time on a BJP ticket, Rajib Brahma who is contesting for the first time from the BPF party and Rabiram Narzary, BPPF president and PCDR-backed candidate. This seat is also a very prestigious one for the political parties. However, the seat earned considerable infamy for the large-scale violence taking place in the first BTC election. Here, out of 63 polling stations, 18 have been categorised as very sensitive while 29 are sensitive and the rest are comparatively safe. Although all the leaders expect to get a high percentage of votes, but among the total 47,920 voters of which 23,622 are male and a little higher 24,298 female, the voter turnout will be the decisive factor.
It may be mentioned here that Rabiram Narzary, the BPPF supremo and the PCDR-backed candidate is also contesting from No. 1 Parbatjhors (ST) constituency in Parbatjhora subdivision of Kokrajhar district.
In the other two constituencies of Kokrajhar Sadar subdivision, a straight contest is most likely to take place in each among some big shots from the BPF, BJP, and the PCDR.
In No. 10 Debargaon (ST) constituency, the chief of BTC and BPF supremo Hagrama Mohilary is in the fray. He hopes to win by a comfortable margin against the other four contesting candidates. Considering that Hagrama won the seat in the last BTC election with a thumping margin, it would be a miracle if the other candidates from the BJP, PCDR and the Congress snatch the seat. According to sources, among 55,022 voters from this constituency, there are 27,363 males and 27,659 females. Out of 73 polling stations in this constituency, 29 are very sensitive, 23 sensitive and the rest comparatively safe.
A straight contest is also likely to take place at No. 12 Salakati (ST) constituency between Hitesh Mushahary, a PCDR-backed candidate and Derhasat Basumatary, the sitting EM of BTC and a high-profile BPF leader. Both the leaders from the two rival parties are pulling heavy crowds during campaign in several areas in their respective strongholds. High profile leaders from both parties are pitching in for ether side and the political scenario is rapidly changing from one side to the other. In this constituency, the BJP candidate Malati Rani Narzary is also trying her best too woo the voters. Among 43,764 voters there are 22,189 males and 21,575 females who will exercise their franchise. Here, five polling stations are very sensitive, 42 sensitive and the rest are comparatively safe out of a total of 56 polling stations. The number of sensitive polling stations is most likely to increase.
This time the emergence of the Congress, BJP and PCDR in all the BTC constituencies in Kokrajhar and fielding of some strong AIUDF candidates in some constituencies will certainly have some impact in the final outcome of the elections. Though the ruling party had won 9 seats out of 12 in Kokrajhar in the last BTC election in 2010, in the 2015 edition a tough road seems to be ahead for the ruling party.
