Barpeta Lok Sabha seat in Lower Assam will be witnessing an interesting three-way fight. Historically, it has been one of the safest seats for Congress with the party winning it ten times. The Left has won the seat twice in 1991 and 1996 and AIUDF clinched the seat in 2014.
This time AIUDF which is contesting in only three seats in Assam in order to stop the division of 'secular votes' hoped that Congress will not file any candidate in Barpeta. At least, they were hoping for a weak candidate from Congress. But the grand old party which is wary that such action would help BJP consolidate Hindu vote in Assam has rejected AIUDF's overtures. This has lead to great heartburn among the AIUDF leadership and Badruddin Ajmal has warned that division of Muslim votes may pave the way for victory of NDA candidate.
Congress has fielded MLA Abdul Khaleq who is up against AIUDF’s Hafiz Rafikul Islam and Kumar Deepak Das from AGP.
As part of seat sharing deal, AGP is contesting with BJP support from Barpeta. In the 2014 elections, traditional powerhouse Congress came third and BJP candidate was second though Badruddin's brother Sirajuddin won comfortably by 42 thousand votes. 13 candidates are in the fray.
Muslim population of Barpeta is close to 70%, mostly who have migrated from Bangladesh. Thus Citizenship Amendment Bill is a big issue here. All the parties in the past have looked to polarise voters to win elections and 2019 has been no exception. According to reports, Badruddin Ajmal has claimed that if Modi against PM, Muslims of Barpeta will be sent to Bangladesh. Invoking Nellie massacre of 1983, he has reportedly accused Kumar Deepak Das of having a role in it.
Assembly segments under Barpeta are Bongaigaon, Abhayapuri North, Abhayapuri South (SC), Patacharkuchi, Barpeta, Jania, Baghbar, Sarukhetri, Chenga, Dharmapur. Congress had won five of these 10 seats and Jania MLA is the Barpeta MP candidate in 2019.
Kumar Deepak Das, AGP candidate is a former Rajya Sabha MP and had previously strongly objected to Citizenship Bill. Around 16.76 lakh voters will decide the fate of Barpeta on April 23.
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 "Lok Sabha election 2019")
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