Dholai By-Election: Amiya Kanti Das Back to BJP, Will Withdraw Independent Nomination

Amiya Kanti Das has returned back to the BJP after some high-level persuasion even from the top leaders of the BJP and has finally decided to withdraw his nomination. After being persuaded by the entire heavy-weight BJP machinery, Das decided to give up his independent candidature. In a meeting with BJP’s Jayanta Malla Baruah and Kaushik Rai this morning, the decision was taken. Following the meeting, Das briefed the press saying he did this for his admiration towards the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswas Sarma but has also hinted that the decision was not entirely his own and he had no other choice.

On October 19, as soon as the Bharatiya Janta Party announced the candidate for the Dholai by-elections slated to be held on November 13, the party’s district Vice-President, Amiya Kanti Das, announced his resignation from the party on a Facebook post. He expressed his sorrow over the ignorance of his hard work by the party for the last three decades and more. While he thought, the party will give him the ticket to contest this seat, the party decided to field Nihar Ranjan Das, who according to Amiya Kanti Das is an “outsider” in Dholai. Later he decided to contest independently and last Thursday he filed the nomination with huge support who also exited the BJP along with him.

BJP had since then realised the void created by Amiya Kanti Das’s exit and declining support with a ground worker gone. Even the Chief Minister of the state had to intervene in the matter, who according to his press conference yesterday is so busy with Jharkhand elections that he has no idea about what is happening in the by-elections in the 5 assembly constituencies of Assam. But he managed to call Amiya Kanti last night and persuaded him to return back to BJP.

Not just that, Jayanta Malla Baruah, the Guardian Minister of Assam had to reach Dholai in the wee hours of this morning to meet with Das. It is evident that Amiya Kanti Das’s exit has created a dent in the strong foothold of the BJP in Dholai when the heavyweights had to intervene.

A meeting was held at the Maa Manasha Marriage Hall in Natan Bazar, Dholai, with Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah and MLA Kaushik Rai present. After nearly a two-hour meeting, Amiya Kanti decided to withdraw his nomination. During the meeting, Amiya Kanti Das and his supporters openly expressed their dissatisfaction against Parimal Suklabaidya, accusing him of causing the BJP’s downfall in Dholai due to his authoritarian behaviour.

Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah took their grievances seriously. Moreover, Amiya Kanti was assured of being given a significant position within the party, and he was also promised candidature for the 2026 elections. It is expected that he might be given one of three positions—district party president, chairman of the Silchar Development Board, or chairman of the Cachar Zilla Parishad.

In a press brief following the meeting when asked about whether he will withdraw his nominations today, Amiya Kanti Das said, “Now it is not up to me, when Kaushik Da (Rai), Jayanta Da (Malla Baruah) and others from the party decides. Now it’s not just about me, when they take me there I will withdraw my nomination”.

Later today, accompanied by BJP leaders, Amiya will withdraw his nomination at the office of the District Commissioner.

Does this mean that the decision was not entirely his and rather he was forced to take this decision?