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Tag: Lurinjyoti Gogoi

  • lok sabha: Lok Sabha battle: BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal eyes victory in Dibrugarh as Assam heads to polls in first phase

    As the vibrant Bihu festival lights up the spirit of Assam, the buzz of electoral politics resonates just as strongly through the streets of Dibrugarh.

    This key parliamentary seat is grabbing headlines as it prepares for the polls on April 19, part of the first phase of elections in the state.

    Dibrugarh is especially under the spotlight with Sarbananda Sonowal, the BJP’s high-profile candidate and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, throwing his hat into the ring. Speaking to during his hectic campaign trail, the senior BJP leader said, “I am blessed to be given the opportunity by the party to contest as the BJP candidate for the prestigious Dibrugarh constituency. I convey my sincere thanks to the party leadership–Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Party President JP Nadda, and Home Minister Amit Shah–for their faith in me.”

    “Given the good work done by the Narendra Modi government for the people of Assam, especially for those in the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency since 2014, I am very confident that people will repose their faith in the leadership of Modi ji as we move ahead towards becoming a Viksit Bharat,” the BJP candidate and Rajya Sabha MP said.

    The BJP, which first came to power in the state in 2016 with Sonowal as the Chief Minister, has been exuding confidence as its main rival, Congress, leads an alliance of opposition parties, including Asom Jatiyo Parishad (AJP). Although Congress is the main opposition in the state, the party decided not to contest its once stronghold, handing it over to its alliance partner, AJP. “Wherever I go campaigning for the BJP, I am accorded immense love and adulation from the people, who have deep faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. It is this pure admiration of the people for Modi ji’s leadership that gives me confidence that the BJP-led NDA will win 12 plus seats in Assam, 22 plus seats in the Northeast, and 400 plus seats in the country. To most voters, it is a foregone conclusion that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term,” Sonowal said.

    The Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency is all set to witness a triangular fight, between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Manoj Dhanowar. However, the main contest is seen between the BJP’s Sarbanda Sonowal and Lurinjyoti Gogoi of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP).

    Both Gogoi and Sonowal are former leaders of the All Assam Students Union (AASU). Gogoi’s name came into prominence during the anti-CAA protests in Assam in 2019.

    With more than 1.6 million voters, the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat covers two administrative districts, including Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. It comprises ten Legislative Assembly constituencies: Margherita, Digboi, Makum, Tinsukia, Chabua, Lahowal, Dibrugarh, Khowang, Duliajan, Tingkhong, and Naharkatia.

    In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP’s Rameswar Teli won with 659,583 votes, defeating the Congress’ Paban Singh Ghatowar by a margin of 364,566 votes.

    Assam has 14 Lok Sabha seats where the BJP is contesting 11 seats, while its ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), is contesting in two seats, Barpeta and Dhubri, and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) is contesting on the Kokrajhar seat.

    The Congress, as the main opposition party in the state, is contesting from 12 seats but is supporting their ally AJP in Dibrugarh. AAP, which is a relatively new party in the state, is contesting the Sonitpur and Dibrugarh seats.

    The election for the 14 seats in Assam is scheduled to be held over three phases.

    The first phase includes five constituencies from Upper Assam: Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Kaziranga, and Sonitpur. Except for Dibrugarh, the BJP is in direct contest with the Congress.

    The second phase on April 26 will cover the Lok Sabha constituencies of Karimganj, Silchar, Diphu, Darrang-Udalguri, and Nagaon, while the third phase will include Guwahati, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, and Dhubri seats.

  • State by-passing crucial clause of 1985 Accord while bringing in CAA: Assam Jatiya Parishad

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Tuesday accused the Assam government of side-lining the “crucial” clause 5 of the Assam Accord, which deals with cut-off date for identification of illegal foreigners by briniging in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

    AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagdish Bhuyan, in a press statement, alleged that the BJP party-led government was working to reduce the Assamese people to a minority status in their own state in order to appease “foreigners” who will be turned into voters through provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

    “Clause 5 of the Accord specifies the cut-off date for identifying foreigners. But it will become irrelevant when the CAA is implemented. It will tantamount to killing the Assam Accord and its spirit,” they said. This vital clause has been ignored by the government when it recently formed a committee to implement the Accord, they added.

    The state government had on September 7 announced a committee with its ministers and representatives of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which was a signatory of the Accord as member to prepare a roadmap within three months to implement the Assam Accord.

    The Chief Minister’s Office in a statement the same day had said that the meeting decided to prepare an “implementation framework to implement the provisions of Assam Accord with special reference to Clause 6,7, 9 and 10”.

    Clause 5 of the Accord sets March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for detecting and deporting illegal aliens from Assam.

    The AJP alleges that the contentious CAA violates the Assam Accord as it seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who came to India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.

    The AJP leaders also alleged the percentage of Assamese-speaking population will decreased by 10 per cent over a 20 year period. “The percentage of Assamese-speaking population in Assam was 47 per cent as per 2011 Census. It is predicted to come down to 37 per cent by 2031. Once the Assamese-speaking population becomes a minority, it will be no good trying to protect their identity,” they said.

    They demanded action from the government in the form of proper implementation of clause 6, which deals with Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people, before it is too late.

    The AJP leaders also said the recommendations of the Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma-led Committee on implementation of clause 6 are being ignored by the government.

    On February 25 last year, the Justice Sarma-led High-Level Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs had submitted its report to the then Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for handing it over to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but no action has been taken on it yet.

    Gogoi and Bhuyan also alleged that the BJP party has grabbed power by playing communal politics but is keeping mum on the matter of the Assamese speakers being on the verge of losing their mother tongue.

    Pledging intensified agitations to protect the identity of the Assamese people, the AJP leaders said the ‘Jatiya Garjan’ programme observed by the party and its supporters across the state on Tuesday was a part of this plan.

  • Assam Jatiya Parishad announces second list of 50 candidates for Assembly polls

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The newly-formed Assam Jatiya Parishad on Sunday announced the second list of 50 candidates for the three-phased assembly polls, with its president Lurinjyoti Gogoi contesting from one more constituency, Naharkatia.

    The party had on Friday released the first list of 18 candidates and fielded Gogoi from Duliajan.

    Both the constituencies of the former AASU general secretary are in upper Assam and are going to polls in the first phase.

    AJP vice president Adeep Kumar Phukan said the party announced names of 68 candidates for all three phases and is in talks with its alliance partner for selecting nominees in some more seats.

    The AJP has forged the alliance with the Raijor Dal of jailed anti-citizenship law activist Akhil Gogoi for the assembly elections intending to oust the BJP-led ruling coalition from power.

    “We are united to defeat the BJP though there may be friendly contests in a few seats,” Phukan said.

    ALSO READ: AGP releases first list of 8 candidates, denies ticket to party veteran Brindaban Goswami

    AJP working president Pabindra Deka, who had quit the Asom Gana Parishad and resigned from the assembly, to join the party, will contest from Pathacharkuchi and is pitted against BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass.

    The AJP fielded former Assembly Speaker Pulakesh Barua from Borkhetri and Adeep Phukan from Gauhati (East).

    Former Congress leader Dulu Ahmed will contest from Hajo as an AJP candidate.

    The AJP, which was formed by the All Assam Students’ Union and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) following the anti-CAA protests, will also contest in five seats – Patharkandi, Dholai, Lakhipur, Katigorah and Udarbond- in the Barak Valley.

    The three-phased elections for the 126-member Assam assembly will be held on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

    Votes will be counted on May 2.

  • Election Commission of India allots ‘ship’ as party symbol to Assam Jatiya Parishad

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: The symbol of a “ship” has been allotted to the newly formed Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) for the three-phase assembly elections in Assam.

    Addressing a press conference here, AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi said the Election Commission of India (ECI) allotted the party symbol to the regional party on Saturday.

    “We will fight the polls with the symbol of a ship.

    Ship signifies our economy, culture, civilisation and trade along the Brahmaputra.

    অসম জাতীয় পৰিষদৰ সমূহ সদস্য, কৰ্মী আৰু শুভাকাংক্ষী সকলৰ বাবে এটা সুখবৰ ।ভাৰতৰ নিৰ্বাচন আয়োগে ইতিমধ্যে অসম জাতীয় পৰিষদক এটা পঞ্জীয়নভূক্ত আঞ্চলিক ৰাজনৈতিক দল হিচাপে ঘোষণা কৰিছে আৰু দলৰ প্ৰতীক চিহ্নও আৱন্টন কৰিছে ।দলৰ পঞ্জীয়ন নম্বৰটো হৈছে 56/161/2020-2021/PPS-1 pic.twitter.com/yNeEemITox
    — Assam Jatiya Parishad (@JatiyaParishad) February 28, 2021

    The ship will allow us to proceed unitedly in Assam,” he said.

    The AJP was formed by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) last year.

    The AJP has formed a regional alliance with Raijor Dal formed by jailed anti-CAA leader Akhil Gogoi’s Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and 70 organisations.

    Of the total 126 seats in Assam Assembly, elections to 47, mostly in upper Assam, will be held on March 27, while 39 in Barak Valley and central Assam will go to polls on April 1 and voting in the remaining 40 seats in lower Assam will be held on April 6.

  • Convoy of newly formed Assam party’s chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi attacked ‘by BJP’

    By PTI
    NALBARI: The convoy of Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the president of the newly floated Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), was on Sunday came under attack allegedly by supporters of the BJP in Nalbari district ahead of the assembly election.

    The police said that investigation into the matter has started.

    Though no one was injured in the incident which took place in Kalag area, one car of the convoy was damaged, AJP spokesperson Ziaur Rahman claimed.

    A video clip of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, showed a group of people holding BJP flags and trying to block the convoy of Gogoi, who was going to attend a meeting at Bahjani under Barkhetri constituency in Nalbari district.

    Gogoi said, “This planned attack shows how much BJP is rattled with the rise of the AJP. The administration should take strict action and I request the Election Commission to hold free and fair polls.”

    Elections to the northeastern state will be conducted in three phases – on March 27, April 1 and April 6.

    “AJP adviser Basanta Deka called up the DGP and demanded action into the incident. Our vice-president Chandra Kanta Das also informed the home secretary about the attack,” Rahman said.

    Senior BJP leaders could not be immediately reached for comment.

    The AJP has forged an alliance with the Raijor Dal, led by jailed anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi, for the upcoming elections.

  • Newly-floated Asom Jatiya Parishad seeks crowdfunding to fight polls

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Assam’s newly-floated Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) is seeking donations from the public so it can contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

    “Unlike BJP or Congress, we do not have money power. The people are our wealth. We appeal to them to extend their love and financial cooperation to us. They can donate anything from Re 1,” AJP chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.

    The party, which shared the details of a bank account for donations, said the financial transactions would be updated on a website once every week. It urged people to become “jatiya sevaks” (servants of the state), and register their names on the website.

    The AJP also provided a toll-free number, so people can register complaints and give suggestions.

    “Whether you call us the B-team of BJP or the A-team of Congress, our objective is not power but to serve the people,” Gogoi asserted.

    He urged the aspiring candidates to apply for tickets by February 25 with a fee of Rs 20,000.

    The AJP was floated in September last year against the backdrop of the agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Five people had lost their lives when the protests in the state turned violent.

    The party has forged an alliance with Raijor Dal, which is headed by jailed leader Akhil Gogoi. The two parties are trying to form a united front of regional forces to keep BJP and Congress out of power.

    AJP was floated by the All Assam Students’ Union and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad while Raijor Dal was formed by 70 organisations, led by peasants body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitiee.

  • Assam polls: Newly-floated regional forces AJP, Raijor Dal forge alliance

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: As expected, the two newly-floated Assam regional parties Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal have forged an electoral alliance.

    AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and party leader Jagadish Bhuyan met arrested Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on Thursday and finalised the alliance.

    “We said it before that AJP and Raijor Dal will jointly face the upcoming elections. After our meeting with Akhil Gogoi, we would like to tell the people of Assam that our alliance has been finalised. A formal announcement in this regard will be made soon,” Lurinjyoti told journalists.

    “Ours will be a government of nationalist forces. No force can prevent us. There will be two fronts this election – national and communal political parties on one side and nationalist forces on the other side,” he asserted.

    The AJP president also said that the decision to come together was made to avoid the split of the votes of nationalists and people believing in regionalism.

    He said the AJP has already finalised its alliance with the Autonomous State Demand Committee, which is based in the hill district of Karbi Anglong, while “constructive” discussions were on with the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).

    ALSO READ | Assam polls: BJP to face challenges from Congress-AIUDF coalition, AJP

    The BPF, which was an ally of the BJP until being ditched recently, is also weighing the option of joining the Congress-led grand alliance of opposition parties. The BJP has virtually struck a poll deal with the United People’s Party Liberal and they together rule the autonomous Bodoland Territorial Council.

    “Ours will be a regional front. We will field candidates in all the 126 seats,” Lurinjyoti said.

    Stating that Akhil Gogoi has been kept detained with a “Fascist mentality”, Lurinjyoti said the Raijor Dal president should be released soon as he had taken part in a democratic movement and was not involved in any anti-India activity.

    Gogoi was arrested by the police in December 2019 when the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act had turned violent, leading to loss of lives. Later, he was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case pertaining to his alleged links with the CPI (Maoist).

    The NIA had charged him with sedition, intention to cause riot against national integration, punishment for criminal conspiracy, and unlawful association under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

  • Shah plays infiltration card against Congress-AIUDF in poll-bound Assam

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Listing out the achievements of the BJP-led government in Assam, Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for another term to ‘safeguard’ the state’s interests. Shah on Sunday said the Congress- AIUDF combine would open ‘all gates’ to infiltrators if voted to power.

    Addressing his first political rally in the poll-bound state, Shah took a swipe at the Congress for calling the BJP communal by questioning its alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, which draws support mainly from Muslims.

    At the Vijay Sankalp Samaroh, Shah asserted that an era of peace and development has been ushered in Assam by the BJP.

    Appealing to the people to vote for BJP, Shah said Assam has become ‘bullet-free and agitation free’ and the next BJP dispensation will make it ‘flood-free’, calling floods its biggest problem.

    Shah projected his party as the only alternative capable of safeguarding and promoting the regional culture.

    He also took a dig at the Assam Jatiya Parishad, a party floated by former AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, which is tipped to ally with Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal, without naming them, saying they are in the poll arena to help the Congress by trying to cut into votes of the BJP.

    These two parties are stridently opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and have alleged the CAA is a ‘threat’ to Assam’s culture and identity.

    The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which has led mass agitations over the issue of regional identity in the past, has backed Assam Jatiya Parishad.

    Hitting out at the Congress, the Home Minister said the party had adopted the British Empire’s policy of ‘divide and rule’ by pitting different groups of people against one another, leading to bloodshed and loss of lives of thousands of youth.

  • United front of regional, ethnic communities-based parties likely in Assam

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: After six opposition parties, led by the Congress, came forward to jointly fight the upcoming Assam polls, the state could now see the formation of a grand alliance of some regional and ethnic communities-based parties.

    Former leader of the All Assam Students’ Union Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who now heads the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), said they were working to form a grand alliance with AJP, Raijor Dal, Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), Gana Shakti, tribal councils etc.

    “Our thrust is on a regional equation. This front is going to happen,” Gogoi told The New Indian Express on Thursday.

    He said the AJP’s alliance with Raijor Dal and ASDC, which is based in Karbi Anglong, had been finalised.

    ALSO READ | 1,000 doses of Covid vaccine get frozen, wasted in Assam; officials blame refrigerators

    “The indigenous communities of Rabhas, Tiwas, Bodos and Mishings are left. We feel two of them will come aboard. The tribals are Assam’s sons of the soil. They have to be given a political space,” Gogoi said.

    Stating that they stand for inclusive politics, he said the alliance had plans to field candidates in all 126 seats.

    Recently, the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had appealed to the AJP and the Raijor Dal to join the grand alliance of opposition parties. The AJP rejected it outright.

    “We will not join it. The BJP and the Congress do not have any ideological differences. The Congress had submitted an affidavit in Supreme Court to impose the illegal immigrants in Assam as part of its vote-bank politics. As regards the AIUDF, we all know it was floated after the scrapping of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act to protect the illegal immigrants. So, there is no question of joining this grand alliance,” Gogoi said. 

    He believed there would not be any division of anti-BJP votes since people would reject the Congress and the AIUDF. 

    “The fight will be between us and the BJP. But the BJP votes have eroded after the state-wide agitation against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Similarly, the Congress and the AIUDF have also suffered erosions of 60% of their votes,” Gogoi claimed.

    AJP and Raijor Dal were floated last year against the backdrop of the anti-CAA agitation. 

    Two days ago, the Congress had announced the grand alliance of opposition parties. It has three Left parties, regional Anchalik Gana Morcha besides Congress and AIUDF.