Internal discord within the Assam Congress Party surfaced regarding ticket allocation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, resulting in the expulsion of its leader Suruj Dehingia. Dehingia had expressed his desire to contest from the Jorhat constituency, a seat already designated to Congress’ Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi. Consequently, the Congress expelled Dehingia, who held the position of state general secretary.
In a significant turn of events, Dehingia joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-BJP at the State headquarters in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Pabitra Margherita, alongside many local ministers and MLAs.
Simultaneously, the Assam Congress issued an order expelling Dehingia with immediate effect, but did not explain further.
“Assam PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah has expelled APCC general secretary Suruj Dehingia from Indian National Congress with immediate effect,” stated the order signed by APCC Organisation general secretary Bipul Gogoi.
Gaurav Gogoi is currently serving as a Lok Sabha MP representing Kaziranga (known as Kaliabor before the recent delimitation exercise). For the upcoming elections, Gogoi will contest against incumbent BJP MP Topon Kumar Gogoi in the neighbouring and prestigious Jorhat seat.
Congress declared candidates for 12 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats. It has offered Dibrugarh seat to its ally Assam Jatiya Parishad-AJP, while no decision has been taken yet on Lakhimpur constituency.
The BJP named 11 Lok Sabha candidates from Assam. The remaining three seats are left for political partners – two for AGP and one for United People’s Party Liberal or UPPL.
From Assam, the BJP has nine MPs in the current Lok Sabha, while its allies AGP and UPPL have no representation. The Congress holds three seats and the AIUDF one, while another is an Independent candidate.
