STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has announced candidates for two more seats in Assam for the forthcoming Assembly polls. Declaring the two new names at the party's Hengerabari headquarters here on Saturday, BJP's Assam president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said, "Former president of Axom Xahitya Xabha (AXX) Paramananda Rajbongshi will contest from Sipajhar, and Assam Chah Majdoor Sangha general secretary Rupesh Goala will fight from Doomdooma."
The announcement was made immediately after both Rajbongshi and Goala joined the BJP in front of the media. Rajbongshi had resigned from the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) before joining the saffron party.
Polls to the Doomdooma Constituency will be held in the first phase on March 27 while that to the Sipajhar seat will be held in the second phase on April 1.
Addressing the media, Dass said, "The BJP has become stronger with Paramananda Rajbongshi and Rupesh Goala. The electorates of Sipajhar have been always with the BJP. Our supporters there will lend their support to Rajbongshi also. Similarly, the voters of Doomdooma will definitely vote for Goala and the BJP."
Dass added, "The BJP has changed party candidates in a number of constituencies this time. This is part and parcel of the political process of our party. However, the change has been effected not because we were dissatisfied with their work or their capabilities. The changes have been brought to give priority to new candidates. "
He posed, "If the same person becomes the MLA repeatedly, how will the other workers of the party become legislators?"
Also present on the occasion were Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita and Lok Sabha MP Pallab Lochan Das. Mentionably, the BJP had announced 70 candidates on Friday.