The Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency has a rich electoral history, traditionally held as a Congress stronghold since its inception in 1952.
However, the BJP disrupted this dominance during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, with their candidate Rameshwar Teli triumphing over Congress incumbent Paban Singh Ghatowar by a substantial margin of 1,85,347 votes.
Teli's victory was further solidified in the 2019 general elections, where he secured an even larger margin of 3,64,566 votes against Ghatowar.
In the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP has nominated Union Minister and former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to contest from the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency.
Meanwhile, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who rose to prominence for leading the anti-CAA protests in 2019 as the AASU General Secretary, later went on to establish the AJP, serving as its founder president.
The constituency encompasses the district of Dibrugarh, renowned as the "Tea City of India," along with portions of the Tinsukia district.
Significance of the constituency:
Economic hub: Dibrugarh stands as a thriving economic nucleus within Assam, celebrated for its robust tea industry, oil refineries, and timber trade.
The constituency's economic dynamism renders it a pivotal arena for political contestation, with parties vying to address economic imperatives and champion developmental ventures.
Strategic location: Nestled in Upper Assam, Dibrugarh's strategic location bears paramount importance owing to its adjacency to neighboring states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
Serving as a gateway to the northeastern region of India, Dibrugarh assumes a pivotal role in fostering connectivity and bolstering trade relations with Southeast Asian nations through initiatives like the Act East Policy.
Cultural diversity: Dibrugarh boasts a kaleidoscope of cultures, encompassing a mosaic of communities ranging from Assamese and Bengali to Bihari and indigenous tribes like the Ahoms and Mishings.
This rich tapestry of cultural diversity underscores the constituency's socio-political landscape, influencing electoral dynamics and shaping the discourse on identity and inclusion.
Key candidates:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its contender for the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat, renowned for its tea gardens and oil wells. Sonowal, a former chief minister and erstwhile office-bearer of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), made history in 2004 by clinching victory from this constituency on the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) ticket, marking the first non-Congress triumph in the region.
He succeeds Union Minister Rameswar Teli, who secured a landslide victory in 2019, defeating Congress candidate Paban Singh Ghatowar by a margin exceeding three lakh votes.
Campaigning fervently from Dibrugarh, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal implored constituents to rally behind the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi, championing the cause of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Sonowal lauded the transformative initiatives undertaken by the Modi government, citing the infusion of Rs 45,000 crore into the petroleum sector for the modernization of Bongaigaon and Numaligarh refineries.
Furthermore, he underlined the government's efforts to rejuvenate the Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited (BVFCL) in Namrup through the establishment of two cutting-edge Nano Urea Plants, coupled with the approval of a semiconductor plant, heralding a new era of industrial advancement in Assam.
Meanwhile, addressing a spirited rally at Laipuli in Tinsukia, Lurinjyoti Gogoi, representing the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), launched a scathing attack on Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for his staunch support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Asserting the arduous nature of the electoral battle ahead, Gogoi rallied support from opposition parties, emphasizing unity as the linchpin of their victory strategy in the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency.
Key issues and electoral dynamics:
- Development and infrastructure: Dibrugarh faces challenges in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Candidates prioritise addressing these gaps to improve residents' quality of life.
- Economic revitalisation: Candidates focus on revitalising key sectors like tea, tourism, and industry to promote entrepreneurship, attract investments, and create job opportunities.
- Identity politics: With a diverse demographic, candidates appeal to specific communities' interests, addressing concerns related to language, culture, and indigenous rights.
- Environmental conservation: Given its ecological sensitivity, candidates prioritise sustainable development agendas and pledge to protect Dibrugarh's biodiversity and ecosystems.
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