Assam: Tug of war between AGP & BJP for Chabua-Lahowal constituency 

Dibrugarh: Alliance partners BJP and AGP are locked in a contest over the newly formed Chabua–Lahowal Assembly constituency in Assam, with both parties’ MLAs asserting their influence to retain the seat.

Following delimitation, the Lahowal and Chabua Assembly segments have been merged into a single constituency. BJP’s Lahowal MLA Binod Hazarika and AGP’s Chabua MLA Punakon Baruah have both stepped up efforts to demonstrate their political strength.

It remains to be seen who will eventually secure the Chabua–Lahowal ticket.

Sources said the AGP is keen to retain the seat, and discussions with the BJP are ongoing at the highest level.

Punakon Baruah, who enjoys a good reputation among voters in Chabua for his simplicity, is widely backed by locals who want him to be the party’s nominee.

“Punakon Baruah has done a lot of work for the people of Chabua. We want him to contest from Chabua–Lahowal. After delimitation, the two constituencies have merged, and we want the seat to be reserved for the AGP,” said an AGP supporter.

Binod Hazarika, a senior BJP leader, also commands considerable support in the region. He earlier represented the Chabua constituency and won the Lahowal seat comfortably in the last Assembly elections. During the anti-CAA agitation, protesters vandalised and set fire to his residence. Despite this, he remained vocal during the movement and criticised the agitation.

Hazarika also served as the former BJP district president of Dibrugarh, a tenure during which he built a strong support base.

“We want Binod Hazarika to get the ticket from Chabua–Lahowal. He listens to our problems and resolves them. He maintains cordial relations with leaders across parties,” said a supporter.

Both Hazarika and Baruah have intensified their campaigns and are actively reaching out to voters ahead of the ticket decision.