GUWAHATI, March 31 � Fighting all the odds of dissidence and anti-incumbency, the Indian National Congress (Congress) is confident of retaining the prestigious Lakhimpur Parliamentary seat, which is going to polls on April 7 next.
But, considering the anti-incumbency factor as of today, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) are also in the race and exuding confidence of winning the seat. They are banking on the anti-incumbency factor.
The Congress has fielded Union Minister Ranee Narah. While the BJP has fielded its State president and former MP Sarbananda Sonowal, the AGP has fielded Hariprasad Dihingia and the AIUDF has fielded Mamud Imdadul Haque Choudhury as their candidates for the seat.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee�s senior parliamentary constituency in-charge for Lakhimpur, Bharat Narah told this newspaper that the Congress will come first with AGP and the BJP coming second and third respectively in the electoral battle for the seat.
He reasoned that the Congress has the support of vast majority of the people of the constituency and its organisation is also an old one.
While the AGP due to its organizational strength, would obtain support of a sizeable section of the voters, the BJP because of its lack of organizational base would have to confine itself with the support of the people living within 100 metres on both sides of the National Highways.
On the other hand, AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita, who is in-charge of the party's electoral activities for the 2014 general elections, told this newspaper that though there would be a triangular contest among the AGP, Congress and the BJP for the Lakhimpur seat, the AGP is hopeful of winning the seat.
BJP co-ordinator for Lakhimpur Parliamentary seat Aswini Pait asserted that the main contest would take place between Congress� Ranee Narah and BJP's Sarbananda Sonowal, with the massive anti-incumbency factor creating an exceedingly favourable condition for the BJP.
AIUDF candidate for the seat Mamud Imdadul Haque Choudhury said that the AGP candidate would be his main rival with the Congress and the BJP fighting for the third spot in the battle for the seat.