Suren Phukan from Digboi: Early Life, Education, Controversies, Career & Politics

Early Life

Suren Phukan was born on November 17, 1969. He is a resident of Assomiya Gaon, Tingrai Bazar, Digboi, in the Tinsukia district of Assam. He is the son of Late Tileswar Phukan. His wife is also in politics and is an elected Zila Parishad member. Suren Phukan- Sitting MLA from No 123 Digboi Constituency in Assam. In 2006, Suren Phukan entered mainstream politics for the first time by contesting the No. 123 Digboi constituency on AGP ticket.

Fought Assam Elections thrice in 2006, 2011 and 2016. Fighting Assam Elections for the fourth time. Suren Phukan is the sitting MLA from the No 123 Digboi constituency in the 14th Assam Assembly

Education

Suren Phukan is a 10th pass politician. He completed his matriculation in 1986 from Sowmar Vidyapith Higher Secondary Senior School, Margherita in the Tinsukia district of Assam.

Career & Political Life

Suren Phukan started his political career as a member of Asom Gana Parishad. In 2006, Suren Phukan entered mainstream politics for the first time by contesting the No. 123 Digboi constituency on AGP ticket. Phukan lost in his first stint by 12,735 votes to a prominent, eight times Congress MLA Rameswar Dhanowar.

In 2011 Suren Phukan joined the BJP and contested the Assembly elections again on a BJP ticket. He once again lost by 10,758 votes to his rival Rameswar Dhanowar of Congress (INC).

In the 2016 Assembly polls Phukan contested again on a BJP ticket and this time he got lucky. He won the Digboi Assembly seat by more than 14,293 votes defeating Gautam Dhanowar of Congress (INC).

Phukan is quite active on social media. He has been supportive of several developmental works like distribution of Atal Amrit Cards, distribution of tree saplings, food and materials for the poorer sections during the lockdown and even otherwise. Suren Phukan is said to have disbursed more than Rs 1 crore among BPL families in Digboi. The MLA had submitted his report card to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on his spendings and work done for his constituency. Phukan has been given the BJP ticket to contest for the upcoming Assam Assembly 2021 elections from the Digboi seat. This would be his fourth time contesting the Assam Assembly Elections and third time he would be contesting in a BJP ticket.

Controversies

In 2018, the Digboi Unit of Congress brought an allegation against Suren Phukan of being involved in rigging during the first phase of Panchayat Polls in the state. In 2019, a video of the MLA having a verbal spat with an Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) activist circulated in social media platforms.