Leaders’ kin get Congress nominations

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Thursday defended giving nomination to family members of the party leaders to contest the coming Assembly polls.

“If doctors son can become doctor, engineers son opt for engineering. What is wrong in politicians son coming to politics What else will they be doing ” Mr Gogoi said, claiming that the party has given tickets to family members of sitting MLAs on merit only.

It is significant that Assam Congress president Anjan Dutta, who is the sitting MLA from Amguri, made way for his daughter Ankita Dutta to contest from the seat and has preferred to sit out of the election race.

Similarly, Rameswar Dhanwar made way for son Gautam Dhanwar in Digboi, G.C. Langthasa for son Gobinda (Haflong), A. Tirkey for daughter Rosalina in Sarupathar and Member Gogoi for daughter-in-law Pallavi (Teok).

Rajdeep Goala, who was elected to the Assembly mid-term from Lakhipur after the death of his father Dinesh Prasad Goala, was also once again given the party ticket.

Former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev’s wife Bitihika Dev secured the party ticket from Silchar as did Rahul Roy, son of state minister Gautam Roy, from Algapur constituency.

Former Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar will contest from Moran, a seat currently held by his wife Jiwantora Ghatowar.

Among the “power couples” of the Congress in the state, sitting MLA Monica Bora has been renominated from Gohpur while her husband Ripun Bora, a former state minister, is the first preference candidate of the party for next week’s Rajya Sabha election in the state.

Bharat Narah, a former minister, has also been given the party ticket from Dhakuakhana constituency while his wife Ranee Narah, a former Union minister, is the party’s second candidate for next week’s Rajya Sabha polls.

The ruling Congress has announced the first list of candidate for 65 seats as yet. There are many more family members of Congress leaders who are hoping to find a place in the second list of 61 candidates.

Elections for the 126-member Assam Assembly are scheduled in two phases on April 4 and 11 when the Congress will be seeking a fourth straight term in the state.