BJP in Assam now reaches out to those denied tickets

In a move to arrest the division of votes, BJP in Assam reaches out to those denied tickets. Hojai MLA Siladitya Dev has decided not to contest after BJP leaders reached out to him. Dev was associated with frontal organisations of BJP’s ideological mentor Rastriya Sayamsevak Sangh (RSS)before making his electoral debut in 2016.

The saffron party has replaced Dev with Ramakrishna Ghosh. The Hojai constituency is dominated by Bengali Hindus. After being denied a ticket, Dev has announced he will contest as an independent candidate and filed nomination while alleging that there is an attempt to finish him.

However, on Friday he reversed his decision after meeting Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and national general secretary of BJP Dilip Saikia.


Sarma said, “Dev will campaign for the party in Hojai and Lumding.” Saikia said, “Dev will be suitably accommodated in the party and in the new government.”

Dev said, “I cannot allow Congress to win because this will lead to the dominance of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal as both the parties are in alliance, so I decided to stay with my party.”

BJP has also opened a channel of communication with Silchar MLA Dilip Paul as he has filed nomination after being denied party tickets.