
Assam: CPI(M) Fields MLA Manoranjan Talukdar for Barpeta Lok Sabha Seat
Guwahati, 13th March: In a significant development, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) dealt a blow to the Congress-led opposition alliance in Assam by announcing its decision to field MLA Manoranjan Talukdar for the Barpeta Lok Sabha seat. The announcement was made by CPI(M) Assam State Secretary Suprakash Talukdar during a press conference. Manoranjan Talukdar, a veteran leader and legislator representing the Sorbhog assembly constituency, falls under the Barpeta Lok Sabha seat.
Expressing the party’s stance, Suprakash Talukdar urged the Congress to withdraw its candidate from Barpeta for the greater interest of the people. Emphasizing the need to support the strongest anti-BJP candidate, he called for unity among opposition forces to secure victory in the upcoming polls.
The Barpeta seat, currently held by Congress MP Abdul Khaleque, witnessed a change in candidacy this time, with Deep Bayan nominated by the grand old party. Bayan, the president of Assam Pradesh Congress Seva Dal, is set to contest from this linguistically and religiously sensitive constituency.
CPI(M) is a member of the United Opposition Forum Assam (UOFA), aligning with 16 parties under the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already announced candidates for three seats in Assam, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) is considering contesting from select seats in the state.
On the ruling front, BJP’s alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) nominated senior leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury, a former minister and sitting Bongaigaon MLA, to contest from Barpeta in the upcoming general elections.
With the Congress announcing candidates for 12 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, the party allocated the Dibrugarh seat to its alliance partner Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP). However, a decision is pending regarding the Lakhimpur constituency. The BJP, on the other hand, named candidates for 11 Lok Sabha seats, leaving the remaining three for allies — two for AGP and one for United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
Read More: Assam CM Confident in BJP’s Prospects in Lok Sabha Polls