Guwahati: In a key development ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, the Barpeta constituency has tilted in favour of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) after the nomination of Congress candidate Mahananda Sarkar was rejected by the Election Commission of India.
The decision was finalised following the last hearing at the office of the Barpeta Deputy Commissioner. Officials said Sarkar’s nomination was cancelled due to discrepancies in Form A.
With the Congress candidate out of the fray, AGP’s Dipak Kumar Das remains the only major party contender in the constituency, significantly strengthening the party’s prospects.
The contest, however, is not entirely without competition. Several independent candidates, including Uddhab Chandra Das and Gagan Chandra Haloi, have had their nominations accepted and will remain in the race.
Political observers said the rejection has altered the electoral dynamics in Barpeta, noting that the absence of a principal opposition candidate could give the AGP a clear edge, unless independent candidates are able to consolidate support at the grassroots level.