Avik Chakraborty
Dibrugarh, Apr 3: The Naharkatia Assembly constituency in Upper Assam is gearing up for a high-stakes electoral rematch, with sitting BJP MLA Taranga Gogoi taking on four-time Congress legislator Pranati Phukan in what is expected to be a keenly watched contest.
Naharkatia has a rich legacy of oil and tea.
The face-off revisits the 2021 election, a watershed moment for the constituency, when Taranga Gogoi scripted history by becoming the first BJP candidate to win the seat. The then 41-year-old defeated Phukan by a margin of 14,976 votes, securing 47,268 votes against her 32,292. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president and anti-CAA movement leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi had finished third with 25,232 votes.
While the contest is largely seen as a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress, other candidates in the fray include SUCI (Communist)’s Mohendra Dhadhumia, JMM’s Sanjay Bagh and Independent candidate Michael Kujur.
Naharkatia’s electoral history reflects a shifting political landscape since its first Assembly election in 1978.
The Congress has won the seat four times, while the CPM and AGP have secured it twice each, and the BJP has won it once. CPM leader Sasha Kamal Handique won in 1978 and 1991, while AGP’s Kusumbar Tairai Gogoi emerged victorious in 1985.
Pranati Phukan went on to establish a long period of Congress dominance, winning four consecutive terms from 1996 to 2011. The streak was broken by AGP’s Naren Sonowal in 2016, before the BJP made its breakthrough in 2021.
Local issues, particularly recurring floods and river erosion caused by the Buridehing river, continue to dominate voter concerns. Residents in vulnerable areas say the problem remains unresolved and requires urgent, long-term intervention.
Supporters of the incumbent point to the visible development works that have taken place over the past five years. “There has been progress in road infrastructure, construction of a sports stadium, and improvements in tourism and civic amenities,” a resident said.
However, Phukan, 62, remains a formidable challenger with deep political roots in the constituency. A former minister in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet and ex-Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, she is banking on her experience and longstanding connection with voters to reclaim the seat.
Political observers note that while Congress traditionally enjoyed a stronghold in Naharkatia, the BJP has made significant inroads by projecting a development agenda. “The BJP managed to dent the Congress base in 2021 by fielding a fresh face and focusing on development. Whether that momentum holds will be crucial,” an observer said.
With development claims pitted against experience and legacy, Naharkatia is set for a closely fought battle that could once again reshape its political trajectory.
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