- BJP faces rebellion after denying tickets to senior leaders
- Ministers and former MLAs switch sides or contest independently
- NDA allies BJP and AGP in “friendly fights” on key seats
- Dissidence may impact BJP’s hat-trick bid in Assam
GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 24th March: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), aiming for a third consecutive term in Assam, is facing internal dissent and alliance friction ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections.
Several leaders denied party tickets have either switched sides or entered the fray as Independents, posing a potential challenge to the party’s electoral prospects. Among the prominent names is Nandita Garlosa, a sitting MLA and minister in the Himanta Biswa Sarma government, who has joined the Indian National Congress and is contesting from Haflong.
Former BJP state vice-president Jayanta Kumar Das is contesting independently from Dispur, while ex-MLA Amar Chand Jain has joined Congress and is contesting from Katigorah. The denial of tickets to senior leaders such as Siddhartha Bhattacharjee and Atul Bora has further fuelled discontent within party ranks.
Adding to the challenge is strain within the NDA alliance. The BJP and its ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), are engaged in “friendly contests” in multiple constituencies, raising concerns over potential vote division.
In Sivasagar, BJP’s Kushal Dowari is contesting against AGP’s Prodip Hazarika, both part of the alliance, while also facing Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi. A similar situation has emerged in the newly formed Chamaria seat, where both BJP and AGP have fielded candidates despite earlier seat-sharing discussions.
Party leaders, however, have downplayed the impact of dissent. Assam BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami said that ticket aspirants may be disappointed but most leaders continue to work for the party, expressing confidence that the situation will stabilise.
Despite appearing electorally strong, the BJP now faces a dual test—managing internal rebellion and maintaining alliance cohesion—as Assam heads into a closely watched contest.
