Batadroba LAC: Straight Fight on the Cards Between Angoorlata Deka(BJP) & Sibamoni Bora(INC)

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI: Political analysts feel that a straight fight is on the cards between two candidates – both women — for the Batadroba LAC (Legislative Assembly Constituency) in Nagaon district.

Though seven candidates are in the fray in the Batadroba LAC where polls are slated during the first-phase on March 27, the main contenders appear to be Angoorlata Deka — the present legislator from BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), and Sibamoni Bora of the INC (Indian National Congress). Besides Deka and Bora, the other candidates are Musleha Begum (Rashtriya Ulema Council); Anupam Baruah (Janata Dal-United); Fakar Uddin (Asom Jana Morcha); and two Independents, namely Prafulla Rajkhowa and Matiur Rahman.

Big Battle Candidate Introduction

While Angoorlata Deka is a noted Assamese film personality, Sibamoni Bora was a former Block Development Officer. Notably, Sibamoni Bora's father (late) Kiron Bora had also represented the Batadroba seat in 1983.

Accompanied by star campaigners, both the candidates are already carrying out their respective poll campaigns and rallies across the Constituency. While Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are campaigning for Angoorlata Deka, AICC (All India Congress Committee) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has rallied behind Sibamoni Bora.

In the 2016 Assembly polls, Angoorlata Deka had defeated Gautam Bora (INC) by a margin of 5,885 votes. Deka polled 46,343 votes as against 40,458 votes polled by Bora.

What Says Angoorlata Deka?

When contacted, Deka said, "Our victory is certain. Further development of Batadroba is my prime objective. During the last five years of the BJP-led coalition government here, I also arranged a number of meetings between the masses and the Chief Minister for the uplift of Batadroba. This move has boosted confidence among the masses here as meeting the CM was beyond their dreams. Hence, there is no more any difference between the public representative and the electorates. Earlier, there was a yawning gap between the people and the local legislator."

Deka added, "During the times of earlier governments, the Bardowa Than — birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva — did not receive much attention. But, the BJP government has initiated several projects for the development of Bardowa Than. A project of Rs 188 crore for the Than is already on. My aim is to ensure its completion within the next five years."

What Says Sibmani Bora?

Sibamoni Bora said, "I have two main objectives. Besides developing the entire Batadroba LAC, practical steps will be initiated to solve the unemployment problem among the youths across the Constituency."

Pointing out that "educated youths have remained unemployed in Batadroba", Bora added, "Many among them are frustrated now. I will work to give them employment. My party – Congress – has also given the guarantee to employ five lakh qualified youths in various government departments."

Bora further said, "The present government is claiming that development has taken place in Batadroba. However, the interior places of the Constituency have still remained undeveloped. How can development take place when the very condition of the roads there is quite pitiable?"

Of the 1,65,977 electorates in Batadroba LAC this year, there are 84,493 males; 81,475 females; and nine transgenders. A total of 220 polling stations will be set up in this Constituency.

Also Read: Batadrava MLA Angoorlata Deka visits Phanidhar Bora's family

Also Watch: Bihu workshop held in Guwahati