BREAKING: Peasant leader Akhil Gogoi to contest Assam elections in 2021

GUWAHATI: Akhil Gogoi, the peasant leader who has been incarcerated for his role in the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, will contest the 2021 elections in Assam from the Sivasagar Constituency in Upper Assam. This was stated by his Deputy, Dhaijya Konwar, who is presently out on bail.

"We are certain that Akhil Gogoi will contest from the Sivasagar Assembly Constituency," Konwar told Inside Northeast earlier today, adding that the 'Raijor Dol', that was given shape by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), is holding "informal talks" with fellow regional party Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP).

"Although talks are yet to reach a formal state, we are almost certain that there will be good news in January in regards to an alliance," Konwar added.

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The JP, it may be noted, has been trying to stitch alliances with other regional parties, so that it can contest the polls in each of the 126 Assembly Constituencies in Assam.

Gogoi was arrested on December 12 as a preventive measure while protests against the CAA in the state raged and resulted in violence at several places. Gogoi’s case was later handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which filed a charge sheet against him on June 29, 2020 for alleged conspiracy in league with the proscribed Maoist outfit, the CPI (Maoist) group, for commissioning of alleged terrorist acts.

While the peasant leader was in jail, the Gogoi-led KMSS floated its own regional party called 'Raijor Dal' (or people's party) to contest the polls in Assam. Meanwhile, the Congress, Assam's largest opposition party, has exhorted the smaller players like the AJP and the 'Raijor Dal' to be a part of a grand alliance in 2021.

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