Guwahati, 01 July (HS): A fresh political war of words erupted in Assam on Wednesday after Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi expressed confidence that the Congress would win the proposed Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.

Reacting to Gogoi's statement, former Nagaon MP and present BJP MLA Pradyut Bordoloi said the Assam Congress President was ignoring the electoral history of the constituency despite facing repeated defeats. He claimed that the people of the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat have consistently voted against the Congress, with the constituency earlier being represented by the AGP and later by the BJP.

Assam Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika also criticised Gogoi's remarks, saying it was ironic for him to claim that the BJP would be defeated after allegedly suffering repeated electoral setbacks. Referring to the Jorhat Lok Sabha election, Hazarika claimed that Gogoi had himself lost by 22,000 votes and described his assertion of defeating the BJP as laughable. He further alleged that Gogoi's claim reflected the weakening position of the Congress in the state.---------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash