Doomdooma: Amid environmental and economic concerns, Assam Cabinet Minister Rupesh Gowala on Monday filed his nomination as the NDA candidate from Doomdooma Assembly Constituency in Tinsukia district for the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly elections.
The papers were submitted at the Co-District Commissioner’s office on the last date fixed by the Election Commission of India. Polling is scheduled in a single phase on April 9.
Doomdooma is going into the election with multiple ongoing issues. The constituency’s namesake river shows signs of ecological stress, with its course affected by encroachment, its flow impacted by plastic waste and untreated garbage, and its stability affected by unregulated sand mining. The river has also contributed to seasonal flooding in recent years.
Erosion remains a continuing concern. Since 1992, the Dangori river and its tributary, Ananta Nala, have affected habitation and farmland, particularly in areas like Kordoiguri. Portions of fertile land have been lost, families have been displaced, and some residents continue to face uncertainty even outside the monsoon months.
The demand for effective, scientific erosion-control measures remains a key issue in the area.
Economic conditions add to these challenges. Doomdooma’s tea-driven economy, supported by large estates and small growers, faces structural issues, including low wages, pricing imbalances, and delays in welfare measures, affecting workers’ livelihoods.
Sworn in as a Cabinet Minister on December 9, 2024, under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Gowala holds the portfolios of Labour Welfare, Tea Tribes and Adivasi Welfare, and Home (Prisons, Home Guards, and Civil Defence).
His tenure has included initiatives such as proposed land rights legislation for tea workers, wage-related measures, health programmes, and the ‘Uddipan’ education initiative, which have drawn attention among tea garden communities.
“Carrying the blessings of the people of Doomdooma, I have filed my nomination as the NDA candidate,” Gowala said after submitting his papers.
The Bharatiya Janata Party renominated him in its first list of 88 candidates released on March 19, indicating organisational confidence in his grassroots support.
Accompanied by a large number of supporters, Gowala is set to contest against Congress candidate Durga Bhumij in the constituency.