Dibrugarh: Titabor assembly constituency in Jorhat district, long regarded as the political stronghold of the late former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, is set for a fascinating electoral battle this time, with both BJP and Congress fielding entirely new candidates — and a rebellious sitting MLA throwing the contest wide open.BJP has placed its bet on Dhiraj Gowala, 44, a tea community leader and former president of Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA), while Congress has fielded Pran Kurmi, 60, also a prominent figure from the tea community. The choice of tea community candidates by both major parties is no coincidence — Titabor has a substantial tea garden voter base that could prove decisive in what promises to be a close contest.
Adding a dramatic twist to the election is the candidacy of sitting Congress MLA Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah, 65, who resigned from the party after being denied a ticket and is now contesting as an Independent. Congress sources said Baruah was dropped due to perceptions of his growing proximity to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma — an allegation that has not been publicly denied. The central question now is whether Baruah, who won handsomely in 2021, can peel away enough Congress votes to upset the party’s official candidate. A fourth candidate, Pallav Saikia, 45, of the Aam Aadmi Party, completes the field.Baruah’s 2021 victory was emphatic. He defeated BJP’s Hemanta Kalita by 13,379 votes, polling 64,303 votes to Kalita’s 50,924. That commanding win makes his presence in the race as an Independent a serious complication for the Congress, which must now hope that voters back the party over the man they elected just four years ago.“The people of Titabor have always trusted Congress, and they will continue to do so. Our candidate Pran Kurmi understands the struggles of the tea community from within. We are confident of victory,” said Bhagirath Majhi, a Congress leader in the constituency.BJP, meanwhile, is banking on Gowala’s grassroots connect with tea workers. “Dhiraj Gowala has spent years fighting for the rights of the tea community. He is the right voice for Titabor in the assembly,” said Ganesh Kurmi, a BJP leader.Titabor’s political history is dominated by Congress. Of the 11 assembly elections held since 1972, Congress has won eight times, AGP twice, and CPI once. The Gogoi family’s imprint on the seat is unmistakable — the late Tarun Gogoi won from Titabor three consecutive times in 2006, 2011, and 2016, cementing it as his home turf. Before him, his brother Dip Gogoi had won the seat in 2001.Despite its political prominence, Titabor continues to grapple with ground-level civic issues. Residents point to deteriorating roads in interior pockets and unreliable drinking water supply as persistent grievances that successive representatives have failed to fully address.“Every election, candidates promise roads and water. We are still waiting. Whoever wins must deliver this time,” said Ganesh Tasa, a voter from a tea estate in the constituency.With a splintered opposition vote, a sentimental Congress legacy, and an energised BJP, Titabor’s outcome on April 9 could hinge on just how much support the Independent Baruah manages to retain.
