Former Assam BJP President Siddhartha Bhattacharya Gracefully Accepts Ticket Denial
In Guwahati, former state BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who secured the prestigious Gauhati East seat in the last two assembly elections, stated on Friday that he harbors no resentment over being denied a ticket this time. The party has instead fielded a young candidate, Diplu Ranjan Sarmah, a serving state general secretary, for the newly reconstituted New Guwahati constituency, which was formerly known as Gauhati East.
A Decade of Political Service and Advocacy
Bhattacharya, an advocate and son of veteran Left leader Gauri Sankar Bhattacharya, expressed deep gratitude to the voters of his home constituency for their unwavering support over the past decade. He emphasized that his primary identity has always been that of an advocate, even though he was associated with the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch until 2011. "My journey with BJP began in 1995, and they first fielded me in Gauhati East in 2011 against Congress, where I lost narrowly," he recounted. "Despite the setback, I continued to work tirelessly, and in 2016, the party entrusted me with a ticket again. I won by over one lakh votes, becoming an MLA for the first time."
He added, "In the 2021 elections, held amid the Covid-19 pandemic and statewide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, I retained the seat for a second consecutive term, winning by a huge margin." Bhattacharya, who represented the only urban constituency for a decade, asserted that his work as an MLA can be judged from the records of the state assembly. "I undertook several initiatives for the welfare of residents, particularly through the construction and reconstruction of key sub-arterial roads," he noted.
Reflections on Political Legacy and Family Background
On being denied a ticket this time, Bhattacharya stated, "I harbor no resentment toward the party leadership. I have had the honour of serving this constituency for 10 years, and the people embraced me as one of their own." His political journey includes a defeat by Congress leader Robin Bordoloi, son of the first Assam CM Gopinath Bordoloi, in 2011 by nearly 4,000 votes. However, he later defeated Robin Bordoloi’s daughter Ashima in 2021 and Bobbeeta Sharma in 2016.
Bhattacharya's family has a rich political legacy. His father, Gauri Sankar Bhattacharya, represented Assam at the first CPI convention in 1943 and became the state’s first CPI MLA in 1957. He later quit the party and launched the People’s Democratic Party of Assam (PDPA) in 1969, which was the first regional party with a leftist orientation in the state.
Key Points from Bhattacharya's Political Career
- Joined BJP in 1995 and first contested from Gauhati East in 2011, losing narrowly to Congress.
- Won the Gauhati East seat in 2016 by over one lakh votes, becoming an MLA for the first time.
- Retained the seat in 2021 amid pandemic and CAA protests, winning by a significant margin.
- Undertook welfare initiatives, focusing on road construction and reconstruction in the urban constituency.
- Expressed gratitude to voters and no resentment over ticket denial for the New Guwahati constituency.
This development marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Assam, as the BJP opts for a younger candidate in the reconstituted constituency, while Bhattacharya reflects on his contributions and family's enduring legacy in state politics.
