Jailed KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to contest Assembly polls

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GUWAHATI:

Jailed Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) founder and leader Akhil Gogoi announced that he would contest the Assam Assembly elections next year.

“We have for a long time been saying and would now like to make it certain once for all that our advisor, Akhil Gogoi, will contest next year’s Assembly elections from (Upper Assam's) Sivasagar constituency,” KMSS general secretary Dhaijya Konwar told reporters.

“We have been listening to the views and opinions of people in Sivasagar constituency and understanding what they want for a long time. Besides, there was a proposal from the party that he should represent the constituency in the Assembly polls,” Konwar said.

KMSS along with 70 indigenous groups of the state, had in October this year, joined hands to float a regional political party – Raijor Dal – to take on the “national parties in the polls and usher in a new Assam by taking everyone together.”

The party, scheduled to open its headquarters and unveil its flag here on Sunday, had earlier hinted at Gogoi’s political plunge and that he would be the chief ministerial candidate.

Akhil Gogoi

Gogoi has been lodged at Guwahati Central Jail following his arrest in December last year for his role in the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act.

Several demonstrations seeking his release following reports of his deteriorating health had taken place.

Meanwhile, the party has kept its legal proceedings for the release of the KMSS founder leader, and party sources say that a “good news could be expected in January 2021.”

It may be mentioned that former AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who was recently president of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), the regional party floated by AASU and AJYCP in September, is also likely to contest the Assembly polls from Sivasagar.

Assam has seen several regional political parties come up since the anti-CAA movement in December last year.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)

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