Despite die hard efforts by Nowgong Lok Sabha MP Rajen Gohain, the BJP has nominated party legislator from Nowgong Sadar assembly constituency, Rupak Sarmah in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in the constituency.
Although the BJP is yet to officially announce the candidates for the Lok Sabha seat, sources in the saffron party on Saturday confirmed that Sarmah’s name was finalized by the top brass of the party and that the official announcement is due in short time.
“The party leadership has finalized the name of Rupak Sharma to contest from the Nawgong Lok Sabha constituency this time. The official announcement will be made soon,” confirmed a senior functionary of the saffron party.
He said that Sharma was selected as the party was looking for a young and dynamic candidate in the constituency after union minister of state for Railways Rajen Gohain declined to contest from the constituency.
Gohain said that he would not contest from the constituency until his name is cleared by the court regarding the allegation of rape and molestation of a woman.
A prominent businessman of Nagaon town, Sarmah is also popular in the cultural world and he used to play musical instruments with popular musician and singer Zubeen Garg.
While the saffron party has put up the candidature of Rupak Sarmah in the constituency, the Congress has fielded former minister and senior party leader Pradyut Bordoloi. Bordoloi, who used to be a legislator from Margherita constituency lost in 2016 polls to his nearest BJP rival.
Gohain was lobbying hard for the party ticket to his wife Rita Nath Gohain but finally failed to achieve it.
Nowgong Lok Sabha constituency is a forte of the BJP for last two decades with Rajen Gohain holding the seat for four consecutive terms since 1999.
Gohain wanted to contest the polls this time as well but had to give up as pressure was mounting on him from the top brass after his name got entangled into a rape allegation last year.
A woman field a case of rape and molestation against Gohain, landing him into the controversy.
After he decided not to contest this time, Gohain had lobbied hard in New Delhi to confirm the ticket for his wife Rita but to no avail.