Guwahati, 13 September (HS): Assam minister Pijush Hazarika on Sunday claimed that BJP candidate Devasish Sharma would emerge victorious in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, asserting that the party has received a strong response from voters despite the constituency not traditionally being a stronghold of the BJP.

Hazarika also took a swipe at the Congress over the delay in announcing its candidate for the by-election. He claimed that a contest between Shivamoni Bora and Durlav Chamua was currently underway within the Congress over the party ticket.

Meanwhile, the Congress suffered another setback in Nagaon ahead of the by-election, with more than 1,000 Congress workers joining the BJP at Rupahi in Samaguri on Sunday. The joining programme was held in the presence of Pijush Hazarika and Pradyut Bordoloi.

The development came shortly after Abdul Malek and Osman Ali, considered close to former Congress leader Rakibul Hussain, quit the party, triggering further political turbulence within the Congress organisation in Samaguri.

The new BJP entrants reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as “dynastic politics” involving the father-son leadership in the constituency. Minority community workers who joined the BJP alleged that they were fed up with “family-centric politics” and said they had decided to leave Congress collectively.

They also claimed that a situation could arise in Samaguri where the Congress would eventually have no workers left to carry its flag. The minority voters joining the BJP expressed hope that development of the constituency would accelerate under BJP leadership.

Hazarika maintained that the growing support for the BJP would strengthen the party's prospects in the Nagaon by-election and reiterated his confidence in Sharma's victory.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash