GUWAHATI: Unlike the 2016 election, which revolved round PM Narendra Modi and his vow to free Assam of infiltrators, this year’s election concerned the identity of Assamese and indigenous people.
Most of Assam erupted in protests in December 2019, when the Centre passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Five people were killed and numerous others injured in the anti-CAA movement that sparked a chain reaction across the valley. Leading organisations like the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and Asam Sahitya Sabha expressed solidarity with the protesters.
While the saffron camp’s narrative for safeguarding indigenous identity was to resist the “aggression of migrant Muslims” of Bengali origin, ethnic organisations refused to buy the argument and switched to war mode to thwart the CAA.
BJP supporters at the party office in Guwahati
GUWAHATI: If the 2016 election revolved around Narendra Modi and his vow to free the state of infiltrators, the 2021 election was all about the identity of Assamese and indigenous people. Development and employment were lesser issues.
Assam, except the Bengali-inhabited Barak Valley, erupted in protests in December 2019 when the Centre passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Five people were killed in the protests and numerous others were injured in the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests that sparked a chain reaction across the Brahmaputra Valley.
Leading organizations like the All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and Asam Sahitya Sabha expressed solidarity with the protesters to safeguard the indigenous identity for months till the pandemic brought protests to a grinding halt in March next year. The identity of the Assamese and other indigenous people took centrestage when the moment
Assam election results: Anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi first in state to win polls from jail
The founder of the newly floated Raijor Dal arrested in December 2019 over sedition charges bagged 57,219 votes as an Independent, garnering support from 46.06 per cent of the electorate.
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SIBSAGAR: Jailed anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi became the first Assamese to win an election without hitting the campaign trail, as he clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest rival Surabhi Rajkonwari of the BJP by a decisive 11,875 votes.
The founder of the newly floated Raijor Dal arrested in December 2019 over sedition charges bagged 57,219 votes as an Independent, garnering support from 46.06 per cent of the electorate.
Akhil Gogoi won because he identified with the indigenous sentiments. People considered him as their spokesperson, Rahman Barbhuiya told PTI.
SIBSAGAR: Jailed anti-CAA activist Akhil Gogoi became the first Assamese to win an election without hitting the campaign trail, as he clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest rival Surabhi Rajkonwari of the BJP by a decisive 11,875 votes.
The founder of the newly floated Raijor Dal arrested in December 2019 over sedition charges bagged 57,219 votes as an Independent, garnering support from 46.06 per cent of the electorate.
The Congress, which had initially backed the Raijor Dal chief, ended up giving ticket to Subhramitra Gogoi, who came third in the contest.
In a first in Assam polls, rights activist Akhil Gogoi wins from jail
Gogoi s 84-year-old mother Priyoda Gogoi and son Nasiketa had spearheaded his election campaign before the first phase of elections in eastern Assam on March 27.
By IANS| Posted by Mansoor | Updated: 3rd May 2021 10:48 pm IST Akhil Gogoi (file photo)
Guwahati: Jailed anti-CAA activist and prominent peasant leader Akhil Gogoi has become the first lawmaker in Assam to win an election from jail after his octogenarian mother and prominent rights leaders of the country campaigned for him.
Without hitting the poll campaign, 46-year-old Gogoi clinched the Sibsagar constituency, defeating his nearest BJP opponent Surabhi Rajkonwari by a decisive margin of 11,875 votes.