Nagaon, April 25: Senior Congress leader and Haflong MLA Gobindra Chandra Langthasa’s two sons — Dipendu and Nirmal — will contest the May 20 election to the 11th Dima Hasao Autonomous Council on Congress tickets. But his widowed daughter-in-law, Pilpilika, was denied a party ticket.
An Assam PCC source today told The Telegraph that Langthasa’s youngest son Nirmal would run from Dautohaja constituency and Dipendu would contest from Mahur constituency. But Pilpilika’s prayer for party ticket from Diyungbra was rejected.
Langthasa had five sons, but two of them, Rocky and former council chief executive member Purnendu, were killed by militants in 2003 and 2007 respectively. Pilpilika is Purnendu’s widow.
The PCC announced the list of candidates to all 28 council seats last night.
This morning, all the candidates left Guwahati for Haflong to file nominations. The last date to submit nominations is April 26. Seven women had sought Congress tickets but only Ranu Langthasa and Renubala Bathari, former executive member Kulada R. Hojai’s daughter, got them.
Two former rebel leaders — DHD chief Dilip Nunisa and DHD (J) commander-in-chief Niranjan Hojai — submitted their nomination papers in Haflong yesterday.
“So far, 16 of our candidates have submitted nomination papers. Candidates for the remaining 12 constituencies will submit their papers tomorrow,” said Dima Hasao Dal chief Dilip Nunisa.
Today, 41 candidates filed their nominations, including chargesheeted former chief executive member Debulal Hojai. The dissident Congress leader filed his papers from his home Wajao constituency.
Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSDP) general secretary Manjit Karikapsa today said the party would announce the names of the remaining 14 candidates tonight. “We have a meeting in Maibong where the second list (of candidates) is going to be finalised,” Karikapsa said.
The upcoming council polls are expected to be a three-way contest between the Congress, HSDP and Dima Hasao Dal. All three parties will have candidates in all 28 seats.
“Diyungbra, Langting and Hatikhali are three constituencies where high-profile candidates are going to contest. Dilip Nunisa, Niranjan Hojai and Mayanan Kemprai (Congress) are equally strong in Diyungbra. Chief executive member Debojeet Thaosen and former elected member Bhadramoni Langthasa will fight it out in Langting,” said Prasenjit Hojai, a resident of Maibong.
The Telegraph today spoke to the wife of Mohet Hojai, one of the main accused in the Rs 1,000-crore financial scam. She confirmed that Hojai submitted his nomination papers today.
According to official records, so far six candidates have submitted nominations from Wajao constituency, including Debulal Hojai, former DHD leader Bijit Daologupu and HSDP leader Manjit Karikapsa.
