Both Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the BJP have fielded candidates for the seat. AGP, an ally of the ruling BJP, has fielded Pradip Hazarika.
Dowari, a militant turned politician had said, “Akhil will be politically killed in my hands.”
Gogoi reacted saying, “I am not afraid of anyone. Do you think an educated place like Sivasagar will vote for such a candidate? From highly educated Sivasagar, the BJP has selected a person like him, it is an insult to the people.”
He alleged that “Dowari is behind several killings”. Dowari was earlier known as Jayanta Hazarika.
BJP state unit president Dilip Saikia said, “People of Sibsagar want relief from Akhil Gogoi and he will be voted out of power. One mush refrain from personal attack or hate speech during the election.”
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that several people were killed in Assam owing to negative politics. “We must refrain from negative politics. I saw there was a massive turn out during the nomination of Dowari on Monday.” Akhil Gogoi had contested the last Assembly polls in 2021 from jail. He was arrested in 2019 on sedition charges during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest in Assam.
Dowari had won as an independent candidate from Thowra constituency in 2016.
Sarma had said, “As part of the strategy and in discussion with AGP, we put a candidate in the Sibsagar seat. This seat will see friendly fights between AGP and BJP.”
Pradip Hazarika is a sitting legislator from Amguri. However, the seat ceased to exist following the delimitation exercise in 2023.
