Jailed Assam leader urges parties to put up common candidates against BJP

Published on: Mar 2, 2021, 21:50:44 IST

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Jailed activist and president of newly formed Raijor Dal, Akhil Gogoi, on Tuesday urged opposition parties in Assam to put up joint candidates against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition in the coming assembly polls in order not to divide votes.

Akhil Gogoi was arrested at Jorhat on December 12, 2019 for his role in the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act. (Photo @kmss_assam)

Gogoi, who was arrested in December 2019 for his role in the violent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and is currently under treatment at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, made the request in a letter written to the parties. It was read out to journalists later by senior Raijor Dal functionaries.

“I appeal to all opposition parties that in order to defeat the communal and fascist BJP we should put up one common candidate against the BJP and its alliance partners,” said the letter.

“That will help prevent division of anti-BJP votes. If required, I will not contest the election,” it added.

Raijor Dal and another newly formed outfit, Assam Jatiya Parishad have decided to contest the election jointly, but have decided to stay away from the Congress-led grand alliance which has All India United Democratic Front, Bodoland Peoples Front, three Left parties and a new regional party as partners.

On the other hand, the BJP is continuing its alliance with Asom Gana Parishad and tied-up with United Peoples Party Liberal.

Terming AIUDF as a communal party similar to BJP, Gogoi said that was the prime reason why his party decided to stay away from the Congress-led grand alliance.

The assembly election in Assam will be held in three phases on March 27, April1 and April 6.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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