BREAKING: Akhil Gogoi withdraws nomination from Mariani seat

JORHAT: Jailed peasant leader Akhil Gogoi today withdrew his candidature from Mariani constituency, but will contest from Sivasagar.

This was announced by Raijor Dal working president Bhasco De Saikia here late this evening.

Raijor Dal president Gogoi had filed nomination from both Sivasagar and Mariani from hospital.

"The decision of Akhil Gogoi not contesting from his home constituency is a sacrifice by our party. It is with the sole objective of increasing one more MLA is elected to oppose the BJP in the Assam assembly," Saikia said indicating that it would ensure a Congress victory from the seat.

About Sivasagar, he said: "We are absolutely sure that we will win the seat and Akhil Gogoi will contest from there only."

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After Gogoi’s withdrawal, it will be a direct contest between Rupjyoti Kurmi of the Congress and Ramani Tanti of the BJP in the Congress bastion that the BJP eyes to win this time.

Sivasagar is another seat the BJP eyes to clinch from the Congress this time.

Raijor Dal's ally Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate Alok Ghosh’s candidature was also rejected by the returning officer for irregularities in his nomination papers. Ghosh later suffered a heart attack and has been shifted to Guwahati.

About pitching candidates by both AJP and Raijor Dal in some seats, Saikia said: "We are contesting from very limited number of constituencies. Therefore, we are hopeful that our ally AJP will reconsider their candidature in such seats."