Tamal Kanti Banik collects nomination form as Congress candidate, Rumi Nath independent

The formal declaration is yet to come from Congress but the candidates are in no mood to wait. According to the election office records accessed by Barak Bulletin, Tamal Kanti Banik has already collected the nomination form to contest the election as a Congress candidate. Putting an end to the rising speculations, former MLA Misbahul Islam Laskar has also collected nomination form as a Congress candidate from Borkhola.

On the other hand, Rumi Nath who, according to sources in Congress, is the main reason why Sushmita Dev had a fallout with the party leadership, has collected the form as an Independent candidate.

The collection of forms does not signify nomination. This is a routine exercise and reading too much into it will be premature is what the experts believe. However, this does send across a clearer picture, as far as the list of candidates is concerned.

Papon Deb is Sushmita Dev’s favourite candidate in Borkhola and according to sources, she has been making a case for him in the Congress’ meeting in Guwahati. Today, the Mahila Congress president left for Delhi. Papon Deb also joined her and all of them were spotted together at the Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.

Though she said, she is going to Delhi to discuss issues related to Mahila candidature in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, a section in the party believes that the visit is related to seat-sharing and selection of candidates. Party’s high command is likely to meet her in Delhi. “I will be in Silchar tomorrow,” said Sushmita Dev.

Meanwhile, AIUDF has already announced the list of candidates including Sonai which was once considered as Congress’ fortress. The Congress list, according to sources close to the development was supposed to be declared today. But now with Sushmita Dev off to Delhi, the process is likely to get delayed.