Guwahati Grinds to a Halt as Political Nomination Rallies Paralyze City Traffic
Guwahati: The bustling city of Guwahati experienced severe traffic paralysis for several hours on Monday as candidates contesting for the city's five assembly constituencies organized massive nomination rallies. This led to significant congestion across key arterial roads, disrupting normal life and movement.
Major Political Players File Nominations for April 9 Elections
Among the prominent figures submitting nomination papers was Pradyut Bordoloi, the BJP candidate from Dispur constituency. Bordoloi, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party just five days prior after resigning from the Congress, was a focal point of the day's political activities.
The list of candidates who officially filed their nominations includes:
- BJP's Pradyut Bordoloi (Dispur)
- BJP's Diplu Ranjan Sarma (New Guwahati)
- BJP's Vijay Kumar Gupta (Guwahati Central)
- Assam Gana Parishad's (AGP) Tapan Das (Dimoria - SC constituency)
The AGP is an ally of the BJP in Assam. From the opposition camp, Congress candidate Santanu Borah filed his nomination for New Guwahati, while Mira Borthakur Goswami filed for Dispur. Their ally, the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), saw candidate Kunki Chowdhury file her papers for the Guwahati Central seat.
Massive Joint Rally Triggers Widespread Congestion
The BJP and AGP candidates organized a large joint procession that commenced from the Veterinary Playground at Khanapara and proceeded towards Ganeshguri, covering a distance of over 5 kilometers. Party officials claimed that approximately 40,000 supporters and party workers participated in this rally, contributing to the traffic gridlock.
However, the rally was halted at Ganeshguri and did not continue to the District Commissioner's office at Hengerabari. This was in compliance with a district administration order issued on Sunday, which specifically prohibited rallies on the narrow 1-kilometer stretch between Ganeshguri and Hengerabari to prevent excessive congestion.
Candidates Express Confidence and Gratitude
Following the nomination filings, candidates from various parties shared their thoughts and appeals with the public and media.
Pradyut Bordoloi (BJP, Dispur) stated, "I have embarked on a new journey with immense gratitude. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all party workers, including those at the grassroots level, for their unwavering support. I congratulate my opposition candidate, Mira Borthakur Goswami, and wish to remind her that the final verdict will be delivered by the votes in the ballot box."
In response, Mira Borthakur Goswami (Congress, Dispur) remarked, "The voters have witnessed the injustices that have occurred in the state. They are prepared to give a befitting reply at the polls to those who have done injustice to the people."
Tapan Das (AGP, Dimoria), who received his party's nomination after nearly three decades of service, expressed his appreciation: "After 27 years of dedicated service to the AGP, I have been nominated. For this, I thank leaders Atul Bora, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Dilip Saikia, and I also seek the blessings of the people of Assam."
Kunki Chowdhury (AJP, Guwahati Central), who is contesting against BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Gupta, acknowledged her newcomer status but remained confident: "I am new to the political arena, but I am confident in my ability to work diligently for the welfare of the people in my constituency."
Her opponent, Vijay Kumar Gupta (BJP, Guwahati Central), made a public appeal: "We need the blessings and support of the people of Assam and Guwahati. I am profoundly grateful to our central leadership for providing me with this opportunity to serve."
The nomination process has officially set the stage for a competitive electoral battle in Guwahati's five assembly constituencies, with traffic disruptions serving as a stark reminder of the high political stakes involved as the state approaches the April 9 assembly elections.
