AGP leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury creates history in electoral politics of Assam

* Elected for eight consecutive terms from Bongaigaon

OUR BUREAU

BONGAIGAON/ GUWAHATI: AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury on Sunday created history in electoral politics of Assam after he was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly to represent the Bongaigaon Constituency for the eighth consecutive terms.

According to the results, Choudhury has defeated his rival Congress candidate Shankar Prasad Ray by a margin of 38,167 votes. While Choudhury received 82,800 votes, Ray managed to get 44,633 votes.

In the history of electoral politics in Assam only late Rameswar Dhanowar of the Congress had been MLA for eight consecutive terms from 1978-2016, from Digboi Legislative Assembly constituency. With the Sunday's win, Choudhury has joined the exclusive club.

The Bongaigaon LAC has long been an AGP bastion. In all elections like panchayat poll and local urban body poll, the AGP has been the winner in this LAC segment since 1985, let alone the Assembly poll.

In this year's election, Bongaigaon LAC had as many as eight candidates. Besides Phani Bhushan Choudhury, the others were Shankar Prasad Rai of the Congress, Prabhat Baisnab of the National People's Party, Dipu Choudhury of the AJP (Assam Jatiya Parishad), Santanu Mukherjee of the Political Justice Party, Sabendra Basumatary of the Voters Party International, Kailash Das (Independent) and Gautam Dutta (Independent).

In the 2016 Assembly election in the State AGP candidate Phani Bhushan Choudhury retained the seat defeating Congress candidate Shankar Prasad Ray by a margin of 31,320 votes. While Choudhury polled 77,292 votes, his nearest Congress rival Ray polled 45,972 votes.

Choudhury known for his down to earth nature told reporters on Sunday that he is grateful to the people of Bongaigaon for electing him for the eight consecutive terms.

"In the next five years I will always remain with the people of Bongaigaon to address their various grievances. My party will also work for development of the State," Choudhury said.

Also Watch: Assam Election Result, 2021: Margherita Congress candidate Manoranjan Borgohain confident of winning

Also Read: Phani Bhusan Choudhury from Bongaigaon: Early Life, Controversy & Political Career