GUWAHATI: Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has blown the poll bugle in silk town Sualkuchi, the nerve centre of Himanta Biswa Sarma's Jalukbari constituency on Wednesday.
Former Aasu general secretary and AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi announced that the new regional party, backed by Aasu, will face the heavyweight BJP leader head on. A few days ago, Himanta had dared AJP and all other anti-BJP regional parties to fight against the saffron alliance as one united front in the upcoming assembly polls.
"It is sure that we will come out with a lion hearted leader from Jalukbari this election. People of Assam have decided that a government of regional parties will come to power in Assam and Jalukbari voters will be part of it ," said Lurinjyoti.
While he lashed out at local MLA and BJP heavyweight leader Himanta, who has waged a war of words against migrant Muslims, referred to as Miyas, the AJP leader alleged that AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal is also banking upon to gain from religious polarization.
"Ajmal also could not vote against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act like the BJP MPs. People know about the actual connections between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ajmal. They can not be hoodwinked for long," said Lurinjyoti, who took part in an organization meeting in the constituency.
AJP paid tributes to late Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, the AGP stalwart and former Aasu general secretary during Assam Agitation days, who represented Jalukbari before Himanta's emergence as an undisputed leader two decades ago. Himanta has won the last four successive assembly polls from Jalukbari since 2001.
Being a constituency that covers the western part of Guwahati and its fast developing northern bank of Brahmaputra, Jalukbari presents a diverse demographic pattern, constituted by both Hindus, Muslims and a large population of indigenous communities.
Himanta, on the other hand, took a jibe at the AJP leaders saying,"After seeing developed road network, AIIMS, Brahmaputra bridge, engineering college, integrated DC office, they will get inspired. I invite all new politicians to Jalukbari. It's one of the most developed constituencies in the country."
Meanwhile, KMSS backed regional party Raijor Dal also opened its Kamrup district head office at Amingaon in Jalukbari constituency on Wednesday. The office was opened in a building that was used as an AGP office since the days of Bhrigu Phukan. "We won't hesitate to fight against any big leader of the BJP. Opening of our office at Amingaon is a clear signal that we will fight till the last," said Raijor Dal general secretary Kamal Kumar Medhi.