Situated in the predominantly Bengali-speaking Barak Valley, Dholai is gearing up for a bypoll on November 13. Given its extensive border with Bangladesh, citizenship concerns hold significant importance in this region.
Nihar Ranjan Das from the BJP is competing against Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha from the Congress in the upcoming by-election. Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha’s father, Digendra Purkayastha, held the seat as an MLA two times during the 1970s and 1980s.
Accusing the Assam Congress of endangering Bengali Hindus, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded to their criticisms of the BJP’s Dholai by-election candidate, questioning his origins and insinuating ties to Bangladesh.
Bypasses scheduled for November 13 will cover Dholai, one of the five Assembly constituencies in Assam. Dholai, situated in the Bengali-dominated Barak Valley, borders Bangladesh extensively.
Following the recent Lok Sabha elections, the seat was left empty as Parimal Suklabaidya, a five-time MLA from the BJP and a former minister in the Assam Cabinet, secured victory in the Silchar parliamentary constituency.
The upcoming by-election will witness a face-off between Nihar Ranjan Das from the BJP and Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha from the Congress. Interestingly, Dhrubajyoti’s father, Digendra Purkayastha, held the seat as an MLA twice during the 1970s and 1980s.
During his visit to Dholai on Sunday for the campaign, Assam Congress leader Bhupen Borah raised doubts about Nihar Ranjan’s nationality, referring to remarks allegedly attributed to senior local BJP figure Amiya Kanti Das following the rejection of his party candidacy.
Borah pointed out that it was Amiya Kanti Das who publicly stated that Nihar Ranjan Das, the BJP candidate for Dholai, is of Bangladeshi origin. According to Borah, this information was disclosed by a BJP leader with close ties to the Chief Minister. Borah urged the Chief Minister to clarify to the people of Assam the reason behind BJP fielding a Bangladeshi candidate in the area, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue and dismissing it as something to be taken lightly.
Nihar Ranjan, an attorney affiliated with the BJP for more than twenty years, has dismissed the allegations as unfounded. In an interview with The Indian Express, he stated, “These are entirely baseless accusations that should not be dignified with any significance. Such tactics are typical of the Congress. There is no substance to them.
Amiya Kanti Das, the former vice-president of the BJP’s Cachar district unit, parted ways with the party when Nihar Ranjan emerged as the party’s candidate, opting instead to run as an Independent. Despite this, he later reversed his decision, retracting his nomination papers and rejoining the BJP following discussions with party leaders. During a meeting in Dholai, Das insinuated that Nihar Ranjan’s parents originate from Bangladesh. Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday, held two public gatherings in Dholai, marking his inaugural appearance in Assam during the pre-bypolls period. Sarma strongly criticized the Congress for stirring controversy on the matter.
The Congress is attempting to jeopardize individuals by making such statements… The Congress party is seeking to revive cases against Hindu Bengali people by bringing up these matters. Despite our efforts to resolve issues, the Congress is determined to stir up controversy… These statements will not only concern Nihar but will affect many others too,” he stated.
In the Barak Valley, a region intimately connected with Bangladesh through a border spanning over 125 kilometers, citizenship concerns hold significant sensitivity. Following the Partition, a substantial migration of Bengali Hindus has occurred in this area. The Assam BJP strategically advocated for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, positioning it as a solution to alleviate the challenges faced by the Bengali Hindu community, which forms a crucial support bloc for the party.
