Lok Sabha election 2019: AIUDF MP in Assam’s Barpeta may not contest
The BJP has left the Barpeta seat for its ally AGP to fight it out with the AIUDF.
Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency in Assam will cast its vote in the 2019 election on April 23. It covers 10 assembly segments - Bongaigaon, Abhayapuri North, Abhayapuri South, Patacharkuchi, Barpeta, Jania, Baghbar, Sarukhetri, Chenga and Dharampur. The constituency is spread across Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Goalpara and Nalbari districts.
Sirajuddin Ajmal of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and brother of the party’s founder Badruddin Ajmal defeated defeat BJP’s Chandra Mohan Patowary in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Barpeta used to be a Congress stronghold but in 2014 the grand old party finished third.
Sirajuddin Ajmal has been unwell for some time and may not contest this time while the BJP has decided to leave the seat for its ally AGP.
As per the estimates of 2011 census, out of total 2400129 population 90.37% is rural and 9.63% is urban population. The Scheduled castes (SC) and Scheduled tribes (ST) ratio is 7.71 and 2.91, respectively out of total population.
Barpeta constituency is economically weak but politically very sensitive.
Name of the Lok Sabha constituency: Barpeta
Date of voting: April 23
2019 candidates: Abdul Khaleque (Congress), Rafiqul Islam (AIUDF), Kumar Deepak Das (AGP)
Sitting MP, Party: Sirajuddin Ajmal, AIUDF
Winning margin in 2014: 42,341 votes
Runner up name, party: Chandra Mohan Patowary, BJP
Number of voters in 2014: 1,430,175
Percentage of votes polled in 2014: 84.32
Number of polling booths in 2014: 1,906
Number of women voters: 674,61
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