Bypoll Majuli: A total of 1,642 people voted for the NOTA option. (File)
Guwahati:
The ruling BJP retained the Majuli (ST) constituency with its candidate Bhuban Gam beating Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) joint opposition candidate Chittaranjan Basumatary by 42,141 votes in a bypoll, election office sources said Thursday.
Mr Gam received 67,242 votes against Mr Basumatary’s 25,101 while the third candidate, Bhaity Richong of SUCI(C), received 2,265 votes. A total of 1,642 people voted for the ‘None of the above’ option (NOTE).
The figures provided by the election officials were different. They later updated the number of votes requested by all parties. Congress did not contest the bypoll and left the seat to the AJP in an effort not to divide the anti-BJP votes.
The bypoll to the constituency was held on March 7.
Assam’s chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, thanked the people of Majuli Island for their trust in the ruling alliance.
BJP4ASSAM candidate Bhuban Gam’s big win in the bypoll to the Majuli constituency of the Legislative Assembly reflects public confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s growth agenda and his views on ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas ‘,” Mr Sarma tweeted.
Thank you Majuli for your trust in us.
‘s great victory @BJP4Assam candidate Shri @Bhubongam poll to Majuli LAC reflects public confidence in Adarniya PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s growth agenda and his vision on ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas Sabka Prayas’. pic.twitter.com/VMKqYBwZzM
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 10, 2022
Born to an impoverished family of the Mising tribe in the remote Futuki village on the island, Mr. Gam now owns a chain of ethnic Assamese cuisine restaurants.
AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said the people are kings in a democracy and “we accept their decision with humility”.
They said the party will remain committed to the land, heritage and people of Majuli and also thanked the people of Majuli for showering their blessings on the candidate.
The constituency election was necessitated by the resignation of the Minister of Shipping, Ports and Aysuh, Sarbananda Sonowal, who was unanimously elected to the Rajya Sabha on September 27.
The former prime minister was elected to the Majuli constituency state assembly for two consecutive terms from 2016 onwards.
In the 126-member assembly, the ruling coalition now has 79 MLAs. The BJP has 63, AGP nine and UPPL seven. On the other hand, the opposition congress has 27 members, AIUDF 15, BPF three, CPI(M) one and one independent.
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