Dhemaji/Tezpur, Nov. 1: The leading lights of the coalition government descended on the Lakhimpur deputy commissioner's office to throw their weight behind BJP nominee Pradan Baruah, who filed his nomination this afternoon for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat, which goes to polls with the Baithalangso Assembly seat in Assam on November 19.
The day also saw Opposition Congress launch its campaign for the seat in Jonai in Dhemaji district.
Dhemaji MLA Baruah filed his nomination this afternoon in the presence of chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, AGP leader and cabinet minister Atul Bora, BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary, Ganashakti leaders Bhuban Pegu and Ronuj Pegu and Tiwa leader Ramakanta Deori.
Baruah played a key role in the dissident campaign against former chief minister Tarun Gogoi when both he and Biswa Sarma were in the Congress.
After filing his nomination, Baruah told The Telegraph, "I pray for everyone's blessings and good wishes. In return I hope to serve the people of Lakhimpur constituency, which I promise to do so with full dedication and sincerity. I also express my gratitude to my party (BJP), AGP, BPF, and Ganashakti for projecting me as the unanimous joint candidate for the seat."
He said vast areas under Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency, which has nine Assembly segments, has remained underdeveloped and even the MLAs could not do enough for a permanent facelift. The bypoll to Lakhimpur parliamentary constituency was necessitated because its BJP MP Sonowal became the chief minister after being elected from Majuli constituency in April.
Assam PCC president Ripun Bora launched the party's campaign at Jonai in Dhemaji district accompanied by Sushil Pegu, Hiranya Bhuyan, Apurba Bhattacharjee and Pradyut Bhuyan.
Hundreds attended the meeting, which started at 11am and went on for two hours. Bora came down heavily on Baruah for changing constituencies and said he (Baruah) won't be able to serve the people of the constituency in Parliament.
The Congress has named an Upper Assam-based doctor, Hem Hari Prasanna Pegu, for the seat.
On the other hand, Congress nominee Rupon Singh Ronghang too filed his nomination for the Baithalangso Assembly seat in the presence of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Debabrata Saikia and Diphu Lok Sabha member Biren Singh Engti.
Two senior Hills State Democratic Council (HSDC) leaders - Holiram Terang and Jotson Bey - accompanied Ronghang during the procession from party office to the Hamren deputy commissioner's office. HSDC has entered into a pre-poll truck with the Congress.
"I will definitely get elected with a bigger margin," Ronghang said after filing his nomination.
BJP candidate Man Sing Rongpi will file his nomination at 11am tomorrow.
A BJP source today said elaborate arrangements are being made for a colourful nomination procession through Hamren town. "Our target is to increase the margin. People of the hill district were deceived by the Congress during its 15-year rule so nobody wants a Congress legislator from Baithalangso this time," he said.
Assam BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami today claimed the Congress and AIUDF are two sides of the same coin and are apprehensive about the BJP's win in the byelections. Goswami also said the two parties are spreading misinformation about the BJP out of fear.
Additional reporting by Sarat Sarma in Nagaon
