From first timers in their 20’s to poll veterans in their 70’s, including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, there is an interesting line-up of contestants for the first phase of the Assam Assembly elections on April 4.
The young brigade, including a woman, are first timers in the electoral battle to take on seasoned politicians and interestingly are all around 25 years of age.
They are Lakhimai Pegu of BJP from Dhakuakhana (ST), Md Hifzur Rahman of AIUDF from Biswanth, independent Joybratha Roy from Hailakandi and Avinash Singh from JMM for Dibrugarh.
At the other end of age group are 12 candidates above the age of 70, including Tarun Gogoi (74), fielded as the Congress nominee from Titabar for the third term.
The Congress here has nominated eight candidates, belonging to the 70s’ club, the senior-most being 79-year old former minister Gobinda Chandra Langthasa from Haflong.
Mr. Langthasa is seeking, for the fifth term, elected for the first time in 1983.
The other 79-year-old is veteran CPI leader Promode Gogoi from Sibsagar, contesting for the fifth time, and elected for the first time in 1967.
He is followed by 78-year old independent Premadhar Bora from Bihpuria constituency, trying for the fifth term, and elected for the first time in 1967.
Abdul Muhib Mazumdar (77) is fighting for his fourth term from Congress in Hailakandi, while Pranab Gogoi of Congress is pitted for his second term, at the age of 75.
Besides the chief minister another 74-year-old is M. Gogoi of the Congress from Teok constituency.
Former Congress ministers Rameswar Dhanowar (73) is from Digboi and Sarat Borkataky (72) from Sonari.
Two other 72-year-olds are the Trinamool Congress contestant Kalyan Kumar Deuri Bharali from Biswanath and Girindra Mallik of Congress from Dholai (SC).
The youngest in the 70s club is CPI’s Dhrupad Borgohain from Nazira, now only 70!
