Dibrugarh, March 31: Dhemaji is heading for a keen multi-cornered contest, with sitting BJP MLA and Education Minister Ranoj Pegu facing a strong triangular challenge from Congress candidate Sailen Sonowal and Independent candidate Babul Sonowal.
The Dhemaji Assembly constituency, a reserved Scheduled Tribe (ST) seat, has attracted a total of six candidates this election. Apart from the three main contenders, Lilimai Doley of SUCI (Communist), Lalit Pegu of Voters Party International, and Narendra Kumar Paw of the TMC are also in the fray. However, political observers see the main battle shaping into a three-way fight.
At 64, Ranoj Pegu remains a dominant figure in Dhemaji’s political landscape. A medical graduate from Gauhati Medical College and a prominent leader from the Mising community—which forms a significant voter base in the constituency—Pegu benefits from deep grassroots connect and strong name recognition.
“I have served the people of Dhemaji with complete dedication — first as their representative and now as their Education Minister. The trust this constituency has placed in me twice is both my greatest strength and responsibility. I will continue working for the development of Dhemaji and the welfare of every community. The BJP government has delivered unprecedented progress, and I am confident voters will recognise and reward that,” Pegu said.
Interestingly, four of the six candidates, including Pegu, belong to the Mising community, while both Babul Sonowal and Sailen Sonowal represent the Sonowal Kachari community—adding a subtle layer of community dynamics to the contest.
Pegu’s political journey has been notable.
He founded the regional party Sanmilita Gana Shakti in 2005 before joining the BJP in 2017. He made an immediate impact, winning the 2017 Dhemaji by-election—held after then MLA Pradan Baruah vacated the seat to contest the Lok Sabha polls—by defeating Babul Sonowal with a margin of 9,285 votes.
He consolidated his position further in the 2021 Assembly elections, securing a decisive victory over AJP’s Chittaranjan Basumatary by 30,792 votes. In that election, Sailen Sonowal finished third.
With multiple contenders and layered social equations, Dhemaji is poised for a closely watched electoral battle this time.
Also Read: As campaigns rise, a quieter election story is unfolding across Assam
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