Politics over “non-indigenous” and “imported” BJP candidates has sharpened the political contest in Guwahati Central and Guwahati East constituencies, two of the four assembly seats in the city.
The candidature of BJP’s Guwahati Central nominee Vijay Gupta has come under attack from opposition parties, which have accused BJP of denying opportunities to aspirants from indigenous tribes and communities. However, BJP leadership and Gupta dismissed the charge, asserting that Gupta is Assamese beyond any doubt.
In the neighbouring Guwahati East constituency, BJP candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarma, who hails from Kaliabor in central Assam’s Nagaon district, has been labelled a “chalani” or “imported candidate” by the opposition.
Sarma responded strongly, asking whether Congress had used the same description for Rahul Gandhi when he contested Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad in Kerala.
Speaking to the media, Gupta said the allegation of being “non-indigenous” was not a challenge for him. “I have no challenge before me. I am an Assamese. My father came here in 1925. Assam is my motherland and place of birth,” Gupta said, adding that dedicated BJP workers would ensure his victory.
Gupta has been associated with BJP since 1990.
State BJP general secretary Diplu Ranjan said he was fortunate to receive the ticket from New Guwahati and maintained that he is a resident of the area. “I am a permanent resident of New Guwahati constituency,” he said, adding that he lives in Ward No 59 in Radha Nagar. “I have been living in Guwahati for the last 25 years. If opposition has termed me imported, did they call Rahul Gandhi an imported candidate? Did Congress call former CM Tarun Gogoi, who once contested from Margherita, an imported candidate?” he asked.
