Dibrugarh: The newly carved Khowang Assembly constituency is set for a keen contest between sitting BJP MLA Chakradhar Gogoi and Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, with both sides intensifying campaigns ahead of polling.
Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Dibrugarh but lost to Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, has shifted focus to the Assembly polls and is making his debut from Khowang.
The constituency, with an electorate of around 1.7 lakh voters, is dominated by tea garden workers and rural Assamese communities, making it a politically significant seat in upper Assam.
Apart from the two main contenders, Prabhakar Das of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Independent candidate Biju Dowarah are also in the fray.
Khowang presents a complex social composition, with both the Ahom community and tea tribe voters emerging as decisive blocs. The Ahom community accounts for roughly 31 per cent of the electorate, while tea garden voters make up nearly 29.5 per cent, underscoring their influence on the outcome. Notably, no candidate from the tea tribe community is contesting this time, leaving a substantial vote bank open.
Chakradhar Gogoi has established a strong electoral record, having defeated former Union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar in 2016 and later his son Pranjal Ghatowar in 2021, consolidating BJP’s position in the region.
Flooding and riverbank erosion remain key issues in the constituency, with residents facing recurring challenges for decades. Opposition parties have sought to capitalise on these concerns, targeting the ruling government over its handling of the perennial problem of flood and erosion.
A veteran political observer noted that while there is some dissatisfaction with the sitting MLA, the extent to which Lurinjyoti Gogoi can convert this sentiment into votes will be crucial in determining the outcome.
Both candidates have stepped up their outreach efforts. While the BJP has highlighted its development initiatives, the opposition has focused on local grievances and governance issues.
The contest has also drawn high-profile campaigning. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has campaigned in support of Lurinjyoti Gogoi, while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal have backed Chakradhar Gogoi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to address a rally in Khowang, adding further momentum to the high-stakes contest in the constituency.