Assam: Congress asked to leave Barpeta Lok Sabha seat to the Left Front

Educationists and activists urge APCC to withdraw from Barpeta seat to defeat BJP ally, emphasizing unity against BJP in Assam.

GUWAHATI

Seventy-seven educationists, intellectuals, cultural and literary activists in Assam have asked the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) to leave the Barpeta Lok Sabha seat to the Left Front so that a key ally of the BJP can be defeated.

In a letter to APCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah on March 17, the signatories said the Congress party should withdraw its candidate for the Barpeta seat in favour of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to defeat the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate.

The Congress denied a ticket to Barpeta’s incumbent MP Abdul Khaleque and fielded Deep Bayan, the former president of the Assam unit of Seva Dal. 

The CPI(M) is one of four Left Front constituents of the 16-party United Opposition Forum, Assam headed by Congress. The others are CPI, CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, and All India Forward Bloc.

“Such a liberal and realistic approach on your part will not only take the image of your party in Assam to greater heights but will also ensure the defeat of the BJP and its allies and remove them from power,” the signatories led by academician Hiren Gohain wrote.

The AGP, one of the two regional ruling allies of the BJP in Assam, fielded its Bongaigaon MLA Phani Bhushan Choudhury from Barpeta. The AGP is contesting two of the 14 parliamentary seats in the State.