Congress-AIUDF alliance to put BJP in discomfiture at Algapur

Special CORRESPONDENT

Silchar: Nothing concrete as yet has emerged about the much hyped talk of alliance between Congress and AIUDF for the forthcoming Assembly elections. If it becomes a reality even in the shape of pre poll or post poll seat sharing adjustments, some assembly constituencies will see topsy-turvy. One of them is the hyper-sensitive Algapur seat of Barak Valley. Quite ironical, BJP since its emergence in 1985 in the political map of Assam has not won this seat. Reason is not far to seek. Algapur political game is heavily polarised with communal overtone. Unless BJP makes dent into Muslim votes with sizeable numbers, it can hardly be expected to romp home with victory.

The dominance of Congress over Algapur remains unchallenged since 1985 when Independent candidate Sahidul Alam Choudhury, then quite young and charismatic, makes his debut in politics, enters the fray and wins. Like an opportunist and weather-cock politician, he joins AGP that forms government at Dispur. Sahidul's luck shines as Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mohanta inducts him in the cabinet and gives him Cabinet portfolio. He becomes the sheet-anchor of AGP in the valley as he gradually strengthens its organisational base to bring Karimganj (North) in its kitty in the polls of 2001.

To be true, Algapur came to be known as AGP forte. But, that could not be for long. In 2006 elections, the little known Rahul Roy of Congress wrested the seat from AGP. And the sudden death of Sahidul Alam Choudhury in 2012 virtually wrecked the AGP ship. The by election that followed in 2014, Mandira Roy, mother of Rahul Roy and wife of Gautom Roy, heavyweight minister in Gogoi Cabinet, defeated the nearest rival Mehbubul Hasan of AIUDF, the new entrant in the political map of Assam. BJP candidate Kaushik Rai was pushed to third position while AGP lost all its sheen.

An analysis of the poll results of 2016 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha makes interesting study. The communal polarisation of 2016 gave edge to AIUDF candidate Nizam Uddin Choudhury who won with comfortable majority of 18000 plus votes, pushing BJP, Congress and AGP behind. The daughter of Sahidul Alam Choudhry, Mehnab Choudhury, who was expected to win emotional sympathy votes, sadly enough had to content with 5000 plus votes. The more a candidate whips up communal divide, he has the chance to come around. 2019 LS polls saw straight fight between Kripanath Mallah of BJP and Radhey Shyam Biswas of AIUDF, Congress coming quite close in the race. BJP won. From all considerations of power equation, alliance will put BJP in discomfiture at Algapur in 2021.

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