Former two-time Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has decided not to contest the ensuing Assam Assembly elections 2021.
The former Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president, who recently returned from Delhi after undergoing treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, has been denied party ticket.
The decision was announced by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’s wife and former Rajya Sabha member Dr Jayashree Goswami Mahanta on Monday night.
After the announcement of the candidates by the AGP with Mahanta’s name missing from the list, Dr Jayashree Goswami Mahanta expressed her resentment over the party’s decision.
The first list of candidates was released by AGP, currently headed by agriculture minister Atul Bora, on Sunday.
AGP left the Barhampur Assembly seat, which is currently being represented by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, to its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
It was earlier reported that Prafulla Kumar Mahanta would revive Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive) and after joining grand alliance, he would contest from Barhampur.
However, on Monday night, Dr Jayashree Goswami Mahanta cleared the air stating that the former chief minister would not contest the election.
Dr Mahanta came down heavily on the present AGP leadership including party president and minister Atul Bora, ministers Keshab Mahanta and Phani Bhushan Choudhury for ignoring Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who continues to represent Barhampur seat for the last 7 consecutive terms from 1985, served as chief minister for two terms from 1985-90 and 1996-2001.