Dibrugarh: Naharkatia BJP MLA Taranga Gogoi hit the campaign trail on Sunday, addressing a large gathering at the Lengerijan Tea Estate, looking to retain his seat in one of Assam’s most politically significant tea-belt constituencies.The 41-year-old legislator, who is seeking a second consecutive term from the tea-rich Naharkatia seat, used the platform to highlight what he described as transformative strides made under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership — with a particular focus on the long-marginalised tea tribe community that forms the backbone of the constituency’s electorate.
Addressing a sea of supporters at the estate’s ‘Pucca Line,’ the MLA highlighted the transformative shift in the lives of plantation workers under the leadership of CM Sarma. Gogoi struck an emotional chord with the audience by referencing the global recognition of the community’s cultural identity. He noted that after a 200-year-long wait, the traditional Jhumur dance has finally been introduced to the world stage, a move he credited to the persistent efforts of the current state govt.“For two centuries, our brothers and sisters in the tea gardens kept their culture alive in the shadows. Today, under the vision of CM Sarma, the rhythmic beats of Jhumur are echoing globally. The dignity and identity of the tea tribe people that was ignored for decades has been recognised,” Gogoi said during his address.The MLA also highlighted the tangible developmental strides made in the constituency since 2021. He emphasised the “unprecedented” construction of paved roads within the garden lines, the establishment of new educational institutions tailored for garden children, and the landmark progress in granting land pattas (rights) to those residing in tea garden areas — a long-standing demand of the community.The upcoming election on Apr 9 is set to be a classic rematch. In 2021, Taranga Gogoi emerged as a giant-killer when he defeated the veteran Congress leader and four-time MLA, Pranati Phukan, by a convincing margin of 14,976 votes. That election also saw AJP President Lurinjyoti Gogoi, a key figure of the anti-CAA movement, finishing in a distant third.As the poll bugle sounds again, Gogoi will once more lock horns with Pranati Phukan. While the Congress is banking on Phukan’s deep-rooted experience and old-guard loyalty, BJP is betting on Gogoi’s youth, accessibility, and the “double-engine” growth narrative.With the tea gardens of Naharkatia set once again to play kingmaker, the battle for this Assam constituency promises to be one of the most closely watched contests.
